The National Young Eagles program, launched in 1992 has, over the course of three decades, flown a nationwide total of 2,264,804 kids in free airplane rides, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association statistics as of July 24, 2022.†Falconís chapter of the EAA, Chapter 72, plays a part in contributing to that number with their own Young Eagles efforts.†According to youngeaglesday.org, the EAA Chapter 72 has flown 4,292 kids locally.†The president of the EAA Chapter 72, Jim Steward, said, ìI alone have flown somewhere around 70 or 75 Young Eagle flights. Our chapter has been involved in the Young Eagles since the year it was started in 1992. We have done Young Eagle flights every year for the past 30 years.î†The Young Eagles program is a volunteer-based program where kids ages 8 to 17 years old can experience aviation through a hands-on approach. At the EAA Chapter 72 Young Eagles events held at Meadow Lake Airport, kids can expect to be given an up-close tour and briefing on the aircraft, followed by a 20-minute-long flight with one of the chapterís licensed and background-checked pilots in the pilotís own Federal Aviation Administration licensed airplane, Steward said.††ìWe have about a dozen pilots at Meadow Lake who donate their time, plane and fuel to give kids rides,î he said. ìThen we have at least that many more volunteers who are involved in the ground operations. Everyone involved in the program donates whatever it takes, so itís no cost to the kids or families.î †According to the EAA, the Young Eagles program is the only program of its kind with the mission to introduce children to aviation.†ìLocally, weíve had kids go on to be military pilots, airline pilots,î Steward said. ìSeveral of these kids have come back years after being a Young Eagle themselves, and now have their pilotís license and fly kids in Young Eagles flights today. My grandson went through the Young Eagles program, and now heís a Young Eagles pilot. Itís a great advantage for the local kids to come out and learn about aviation and figure out if itís something they might want to pursue as a career.îTo celebrate the 30th anniversary of the EAA Young Eagles program, the national organization has launched a ì30 Flights for 30 Yearsî incentive program, where volunteer Young Eagles pilots who fly 30 kids from Aug. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, will receive a commemorative award.††Local Young Eagles events take place on the second Saturday of every month at Meadow Lake Airport and up to 50 Young Eagles can sign up per event, according to the EAA Chapter 72 website, but Steward encouraged people to ìshow up anyway, even if the current month shows that itís fully booked online. There are almost always last-minute cancellations, and chances are youíll still get to fly.îThe next EAA Chapter 72 Young Eagles flight day is scheduled for Aug. 13 at Meadow Lake Airport. Visit http://EAA72.org for more information and to sign up.
