On Aug. 20, children from the Pikes Peak region were treated to a free 20-minute airplane ride through the skies of Falcon, compliments of the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program and the Meadow Lake Airport.Roy Thompson, grandfather of 11- year-old Henry Butterfield, said his grandson was “up there” seeking a new thrill and “quieting” his older brother. “His brother is really into aviation,” Thompson said. “He just dies to come here. Henry was always kind of standoffish, and we kept calling him ‘chicken.’ Well, today he’s going, ‘You are not going to call me chicken anymore. I’m going for it.'”Brad Henry was Butterfield’s pilot. “When I was a young tike my dad had an airplane, and I always wanted to fly,” Henry said. Regarding the Young Eagles program, he said, “It’s great. The majority of the kids express interest in taking it further and hopefully someday they get to have their own airplane and fly also.”EAA chapter 72 out of Peyton was founded in the early 1960s and has consistently worked to introduce youth ages 8 to 17 to the world of aviation, said Sandy Martin, president. “Pilots have been flying Young Eagles for many, many years,” she said. “This chapter alone has flown about 4,000 kids … we hold a Young Eagle rally about six times a year.”Martin said the next rally is tentatively scheduled Oct. 22. “Kids ages 8 to 17 can come out; their parents have to sign the registration form, and then they go for a free airplane ride,” Martin said. “The kids get a certificate that’s signed by the pilot. They get a log book from Sporty’s aviation that they can sign on to online and start going through some of the pilot training.”About 10 pilots volunteer per event. Besides their time, the pilots donate all of the costs associated with the flights. Other volunteers help with the on-ground activities. They all “help keep it safe and make it a fun day for the kids,” Martin said.After unbuckling his safety belt and climbing (with help) down the wing of Henry’s shiny green Van’s kit plane; Butterfield reflected on his experience. Wearing a big smile, he said, “It was awesome. My favorite part was when we turned I could see everything, and when we went down it tickled me a little.” Yet, it might take a few more rides to convince him aviation is better than racing cars. “Flying isn’t really my thing, I’m more into cars,” Butterfield said. “But I do love flying still.”For more information on the Young Eagles, visit http://eaa72.org
