Stunt pilot speaks to Swampscott Middle School students

SWAMPSCOTT – A Red Bull stunt pilot made a pit stop at Swampscott Middle School on Wednesday at the request of a 14-year-old fledgling pilot.Eighth grader Eric Flynn, who has been taking flying lessons with Executive Flyers, already has two years of flying lessons under his belt and has flown from Hanscom Field to Martha’s Vineyard.His father Terry Flynn, who was in the U.S. Air Force, said he has supported his son’s dream to be a pilot and his desire to have his idol Mike Goulian, who is a member of the Red Bull flying team, speak at his school.”More than 400 million people watch Red Bull flying demonstrations every year and he (Goulian) is the rock star in stunt flying,” Terry said. “He is such a nice guy and when I asked him to speak at Eric’s school he said ‘Anything for Eric.'”Eric said Goulian’s visit was the highlight of the year.”That’s all the kids talked about all day,” he said. “It was so much fun. He said he’d take me up this summer and let me do a roll.”Goulian, who showed footage of Red Bull stunt pilots to the enthusiastic eighth graders, said he loves to share his experiences as a stunt pilot with students.”Pushing the limits is what I live for and flying at air shows and competing in the Red Bull Air Race World Championships is my passion,” Goulian said. “In the end nothing compares to the joy of sharing my experiences.”Eric said the legacy of two local heroes inspires him to follow his dream of becoming a pilot. He said U.S. Marine Capt. Jennifer Harris and U.S. Army SPC Jared Raymond, who both died in the Middle East, are his heroes.He added he expects to get his full pilot’s license when he is 16 years old and after his high school graduation he wants to attend the U.S. Naval Academy.”I want to be a Navy pilot,” he said. “My grandfather was a pilot and my dad has a lot of friends who are pilots.”