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Mother, daughter share love of flying in Norman

 
By James S. Tyree | Published: September 13, 2008    Comment on this article Leave a comment

NORMAN — Julie Orrick and her daughter Kiersten have gotten too busy lately to share their long-cherished movie nights, but that's OK.

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Kiersten Orrick, left, and her mother Julie Orrick are flight instructors for the University of Oklahoma Department of Aviation. They are in the cockpit of an OU plane at Max Westheimer Airport. By Steve Sisney, THE OKLAHOMAN
Norman airport festival
NORMAN — The Max Westheimer Airport, 1700 Lexington Ave., has scheduled its second annual aviation festival for next weekend.

The Friday and Saturday event will include tours of the air traffic control tower and new air traffic control simulator for aviation students, a children's area and several aircraft will be on display.

The festival is free and open to everyone. Scheduled times are noon to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20.

"It's something the family can do that's a lot of fun,” said Ken Carson, University of Oklahoma Department of Aviation director. "Come see the airplanes; smaller airports have a role in aviation, and it has a history.”

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As flight instructors for the University of Oklahoma's Department of Aviation, their relationship remains sky-high despite both holding down two jobs.

Julie Orrick, 42, is an assistant chief flight instructor at OU's Max Westheimer Airport. The Moore resident also is a registered nurse and part-time house supervisor for the Integris mental health facility for children and teenagers in Spencer.

Kiersten Orrick, 23, began teaching in August 2006 after earning two FAA flight instructor rating certifications. She graduated from OU in December 2007, completed her multi-engine instructor certification last April and lives in Norman. She also works at a Norman restaurant.

"It's wonderful; I have the luxury of spending every day with her,” Julie said of her only child. "We have lunches together, and we get to be involved in meetings. Yet my office is upstairs, and she's downstairs so I'm not governing over her.”

Kiersten became acquainted with airplanes and airports as a young girl from her mother's team skydiving days, which began in 1990.

"She dragged me to the shows, so I grew up around drop zones,” she said. "I like it, and we both have a common interest in flying.

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