EAA\u2019s International Young Eagles Day, which focuses on\nflying thousands of kids as an introduction to aviation, returns on Saturday,\nJune 12, at locations throughout North America. The return of the annual event\ncomes after the COVID pandemic sidelined the all-volunteer effort in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EAA chapters and members will fly kids ages 8-17 free of\ncharge at local airports in their communities on that day, in activities that\nhighlight the year-round program that has flown more than 2.2 million young\npeople since its introduction in 1992. Thousands of those Young Eagles have\nbecome professional and recreational pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation\ntechnicians, and more after being inspired by their Young Eagles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are in many ways making International Young Eagles Day\nthe restart point for the Young Eagles program after the COVID pandemic put\nmost flights on hiatus for the past year,\u201d said Jack J. Pelton, EAA\u2019s CEO and\nchairman of the board. \u201cOne thing that never faltered, though, was the\nenthusiasm of our volunteer pilots and ground support teams, who are eager to\nintroduce kids to the possibilities of flight once again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also expected to participate are both Young Eagles program\nco-chairmen \u2014 air show legend Sean D. Tucker and NFL tight end Jimmy Graham,\nwho are both avid pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An EAA Young Eagles flight pairs a young person with a\ncertificated pilot. After a pre-flight session that explains the parts of the\nairplane and how pilots prepare to fly safely each time, a brief 15-20 minute\nintroductory flight provides a unique experience. All Young Eagles receive a\ncertificate commemorating their adventure following the flight, and also\nreceive follow-up opportunities ranging from free learn-to-fly courses to more\naviation-related experiences that delve deeper into the world of flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many Young Eagles flights are part of EAA chapter\nactivities, which bring numerous airplanes together to provide flight\nexperiences to youth. While the Young Eagles flights are available for the\nyoung people, parents and families are welcome to join in the activities prior\nto and after the flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYoung Eagles is a great program through EAA making it\npossible for a young people to get up close to a pilot and experience a ride in\na small plane, unlocking the joy and desire of being a pilot and explore a\ncareer in aviation,\u201d said Rick Mestler, EAA Chapter 1114 Young Eagles\nCoordinator. Mestler noted that with 2020 behind and an optimistic outlook for\nthe last half of 2021, preliminary planning has started to investigate hosting\n2-3 Young Eagles rallies between August and November of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChapter 1114 [located in Apex] has adopted and\nenthusiastically supported the YE program since early in the Chapter\u2019s rich\nhistory,\u201d said Mestler. \u201cAs the Chapter has passed the 25-year mark and looking\nto the future, the Young Eagles\u2019 program is one of the components to attract\nand retain a diverse group of new aviators to the Chapter.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n