Another reason to fly—Young Eagles

Most Pilots do not need a reason to fly. We have a passion for looking at the world from the confines of a cockpit. This may be for the pure joy of seeing the ground at altitude or maybe a $100 hamburger. Seeing a sunset or sunrise is always beautiful. The reason for most pilots does not matter.

One of the reasons that I fly is to share my love of flight with kids. I do this through the Experiment Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Young Eagles Program.

One of the reasons that I fly is to share my love of flight with kids.

Shortly after earning my Private pilot certificate, I had a pilot friend who invited me to a local EAA chapter meeting. The group is primarily focused on aircraft building. I had no interest in building an aircraft but I was, however, very interested in taking kids for the first airplane ride.  I was then introduced to the chapter’s Young Eagle flight coordinator.

He explained to me how the program worked. I learned what was required to be able to fly for the program. We take kids between the ages of 8 and 17 up for their first airplane ride. Vivid memories of my father, brother, and I going up in a 172 when I was about 10 came rushing back. I fell in love with aviation during that flight. Some 30 years later I became a Private pilot. I thought this was a way for me to give that same joy to a child and spark an interest in aviation.

The Young Eagles Program has provided me with that opportunity. I have flown about 230 kids so far and am currently the Young Eagles Flight Coordinator for my chapter. Each flight is unique in that some kids ask a lot of different questions while some just sit and look out the window at the world below. I have never had a child who did not enjoy the experience. Some are a little timid as we taxi out but usually, once the wheels leave the ground, it is all smiles. I also take the opportunity to educate parents about how to become a pilot and the opportunities available for aviation scholarships.

The Young Eagles Program has provided me with an opportunity to give back.

I have been fortunate to progress through the pilot ranks and earn a CFI certificate. I have also had a couple of the kids that I gave that first flight to come back and I was able to be the instructor who gave them their first flight lesson.

I enjoy introducing other pilots to the Young Eagles Program. And if I can convice them to provide that first Young Eagle flight, they are hooked and looking forward to the next flight.

I don’t need a reason to pull my airplane out of the hangar and go flying, but sharing the magic of flight with kids is one of the most rewarding—yet another reason to fly.

For more information about the Young Eagles Program visit www.eaa.org/youngeagles. Here you can find a local chapter that provides Young Eagle flights.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Eric Carnahan

Eric has always been interested in flying, and his father paid to have him and his brother go up in a Cessna when they were kids. After retiring from the Navy, he decided that it was time to learn to fly real aircraft. His only regret is that he did not learn sooner. The real pleasure of flying for Eric is flying kids for EAA’s Young Eagles program. Nothing gives him more satisfaction than taking a young person up for their first GA flight, usually in his Piper 235. Now he feels lucky to work on Sporty’s customer service team and teach at Sporty’s Academy.

Latest posts by Eric Carnahan (see all)

• Another reason to fly—Young Eagles - November 18, 2024