TARAN TAKES FLIGHT AT OSHKOSH

You might know Taran Smith from his work on the hit ABC-TV show, "Home Improvement," where Taran plays the character of Mark Taylor, the youngest of three boys. But during this year's EAA Fly-In Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Taran was just a kid who loves airplanes!

Taran spent the weekend at the Convention, which is one of the largest aviation events in the world. While in Oshkosh, he and his parents also had the chance to spend time flying in all sorts of aircraft, including a blimp!

Airplanes have fascinated for Taran for a long time, because he comes from an aviation-minded family.

"My grandpa is a pilot and my dad is a pilot, and my aunt is just getting into flying," Taran said.

Taran's dad, David, and his grandfather built a two-place airplane called a "Quickie 2." David and another pilot flew the airplane to Oshkosh. Taran and his mom then joined David after finishing work on a new "Home Improvement" episode. But Taran has flown with his dad many times.

"I think the airplane looks like a dragonfly from the front," Taran said. "I've gone with my dad lots of times and I've taken the stick and flown the plane before, too."

Taran was tired after only getting two hours of sleep on the flight from Los Angeles to Oshkosh. But he was eager to see the airplanes and to meet lots of people at the Convention's special tent for kids. He also talked with reporters about his acting and about flying with his dad.

One of the highlights of Taran's trip was a special ride on a blimp with his family. They got to see the entire Convention grounds from the air - including the 11,000 airplanes that are parked in Oshkosh during the weeklong event.

"That was awesome!" said Taran. "I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat and stick my head out of the open window of the blimp."

Taran also became a Young Eagle during his trip to Oshkosh. He flew in an airplane called a Vixen with pilot Patrick Rediker, who signed the Young Eagle Certificate after the flight. Taran's name is now in the "World's Largest Logbook" along with all the thousands of other Young Eagles. That logbook is on permanent display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh. If you're ever at the museum, be sure to look for Taran's name - and yours, too, if you're a Young Eagle!

"It was a nice flight," Taran said. "I think the Young Eagles Program is great because it teaches kids about flying and gets them into flying."

Which was better - the blimp ride or his Young Eagle flight?

"I liked them both," Taran said.

Taran says he wished he could have stayed longer to see more airplanes. There was one special airplane that Taran and his parents did get to see, however.

"I wanted to see the BD-10 jet," he said. "Maybe someday my dad and I can build one."

Taran and his mom had to go back to California after just two days at the Convention because Taran had to be on the "Home Improvement" set on Monday morning.

Taran doesn't mind the busy schedule because he loves his work on the show.

"It's great working on the set," he said. "Tim Allen (who plays Mark Taylor's dad, Tim, on the show) is a blast. He's real funny and real nice."

Taran says everyone else in the show is real funny, too, and is great to work with every week.

You'll be able to see Taran again this fall on "Home Improvement." While you're watching, remember Taran is a lot like you because he really likes airplanes too!

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