Imagine: Igniting the Skies and Minds of Tomorrow’s Aviators

At first glance, the “Imagine” event hosted at Santa Barbara Airport may appear to be a sleek showcase of aircraft and classic cars. But at its heart, Imagine is far more than a static display – it’s a living, breathing movement to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals, created by a woman whose life was transformed by flight and who now wants to pay that gift forward.

Presented by the Montecito Motor Classic, Imagine takes flight on Saturday, June 7, at Atlantic Aviation. The daylong event isn’t just about marveling at meticulously restored aircraft or rare automobiles – it’s designed as a dynamic educational forum. With a robust STEM-focused job fair and hands-on interaction with aviation professionals, Imagine is a launchpad for students across California’s Central Coast interested in exploring real career possibilities in aviation and aerospace.

At the helm of this visionary initiative is Dolores Johnson, who is the driving force behind MMC and has dedicated over four decades to aviation. Her passion for flight and fierce commitment to mentorship drive the mission of Imagine. “If I can impact a couple of students that never knew this was available and it changes a life like it did mine, that would be a success,” Dolores shared earnestly.

For Dolores, aviation was not a path laid before her – it was one she carved out herself. “When I was in school, women were told to be a nurse, a teacher, or a secretary. I tried that. It didn’t fit,” she recalled. Her serendipitous discovery of Santa Barbara Aviation in 1981 changed everything. With no formal aviation training, Dolores was hired on the spot by Judy and Joe Heslin – who remained avid supporters throughout her career. “It changed my life,” she said. “They took me under their wing and 44 years later, here I am”.

That transformative opportunity is something Dolores now wants to extend to young people who might never imagine a future in flight. Imagine’s primary mission is to introduce students to aviation not just as passengers or spectators, but as future pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, mechanics, and innovators. With help from organizations like the Wellness Collection Club and support from industry leaders, Dolores and her team have coordinated outreach to junior highs and high schools across the region.

The educational component is front and center. “There are hundreds of scholarships available to students,” Dolores emphasized. “But if you don’t even know they exist, you don’t even know that that’s what you want to do – or even try.” Imagine doesn’t just provide information; it provides inspiration. With QR codes linking to scholarship resources, career guides, and volunteer mentors on site, students will have access to real-world pathways into aviation.

The speaker lineup alone is enough to fuel any young dreamer’s imagination. Chris Hastert, airport director, will share insights at 10:30 am into the role of regional airports in aviation infrastructure. Darren Pleasance, President and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), will speak (12:30 pm) to the evolving landscape of general aviation. 

And then there’s Tracey Curtis-Taylor (2 pm), sponsored by the Sir Robin Foundation, the celebrated British aviator who has retraced the daring journeys of early female pilots across continents in a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane. From Cape Town to Goodwood, the U.K. to Australia, and across the U.S. airmail route, Curtis-Taylor’s adventures symbolize the very spirit of imagining – and achieving – the impossible. Her book, Bird, recounts these extraordinary journeys and her battle against a male-dominated industry, and she will be at Imagine to speak and sign copies.

Throughout the day, guests will also hear from legendary car collector Monte Wilson, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies and interviewer, bringing voices from the aircraft and auto world directly to the crowd. “We’re going to have tables where people can talk about careers, from flight schools to control tower operations,” Dolores noted. “We even have envelopes for people to donate $200 to give a student their first flight – to see if they’d like to fly. It’s about giving them that moment.”

Imagine blends the timeless wonder of aviation with the modern tools of opportunity. Attendees can witness the roaring arrival of aircraft like the P-51 Mustang, talk one-on-one with aviation professionals, explore FBO operations, and even admire artwork from aviation-themed artists like Mark Stehrenberger, the Swiss car designer. But for Dolores, the moments that matter most are the quiet sparks of inspiration.

She tells the story of a young boy she met at a local breakfast spot. “I handed him a flyer and told him about the airplanes and cars. He came back and thanked me when they left.” Another teen grabbed the flyer before his dad could, exclaiming, “We’re going, Dad!” These are the connections Dolores hopes will lift students from casual curiosity to committed ambition.

Dolores is quick to credit the volunteers, sponsors like SpaceX and Planes of Fame, and especially her mentors the Heslins, who first believed in her when she knew nothing about aviation. “They changed my life,” she said. “Now, I want to give that gift back to someone – or to many.”

With Imagine, Dolores Johnson is doing just that: building a runway of hope, lighting the beacon for future flyers, and proving that a single conversation (on a Saturday afternoon) can chart a course for a lifetime. Imagine a world where every child believes they can fly – not just metaphorically, but in real aircraft, with real careers, and real dreams.

That’s the future Dolores imagines. And on June 7, that vision will take off.