What is EAA Young Eagles?

The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.

Since 1992, more than 1.3 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by more than 41,000 volunteer pilots. EAA Chapter 175 has given first flights to HUNDREDS of young people. Mr. Tom McLinsky, Young Eagles Coordinator for EAA Chapter 175, works with schools and pilots to fly groups of young people several times throughout the year.

Young Eagles event (60 youngsters flew) December 19, 2009

EAA Young Eagles event (March 2009).

Basic Facts:

• EAA launched the program in 1992 to give young people ages 8-17 an opportunity to fly in a general aviation airplane.
• Flights are offered free of charge and made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.
• A major objective of the program upon its founding in 1992 was to inspire a million young people with introductory general aviation flights before the
• centennial of powered flight, a major nationwide celebration on Dec. 17, 2003, marking the Wright brothers’ historic first at Kitty Hawk, NC. The EAA community rallied and met this objective on Nov. 13, 2003.
• More than 1.4 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by more than 42,000 volunteer pilots.
• Actor, pilot, and aviation enthusiast Harrison Ford has served as the EAA Young Eagles Program’s chairman since early 2004. The program’s founding chairman in 1992 was actor Cliff Robertson, also an avid pilot. Two years later, aviation legend Chuck Yeager succeeded Robertson and served in the post through the end of 2003.

Benefits of the EAA Young Eagles Program:

The EAA Young Eagles Program fulfills five important purposes:

• It inspires youth and promotes their achievement. Young Eagles flight experiences with EAA volunteer pilots reinforce the message of earned reward. The youngster sees firsthand that pilots — by applying themselves and being self-disciplined and focused on a goal — earn the reward of flight. The experience is also educational, reinforcing principles of math, physics, and mechanical engineering.
• It builds a future for aviation. Although not all youth inspired by an EAA Young Eagles experience will further pursue an interest in aviation, many of them will. The EAA Young Eagles program plants seeds that will reap the pilots, aeronautical engineers, and other aviation leaders of tomorrow.
• It provides a highly rewarding way to participate in aviation. Promoting participation in aviation is a major part of EAA’s mission. EAA Young Eagles rallies and fly-ins help to keep our members active in pursuing their passion. These events give pilots another good reason to fly, present many other volunteering opportunities, and bring chapter members together, strengthening the community of aviation enthusiasts.
• It sustains regional and local airports. Many small airports struggle to remain solvent. EAA Young Eagles rallies and fly-ins provide local airports a much-needed boost in publicity and business. The vitality of these airports, in turn, promotes commerce and the economic activity in the surrounding local communities.
• It serves as an ambassador for general aviation. In many ways, particularly in the post-9/11 era, general aviation has been misunderstood and, consequently, “under attack.” Policymakers and other public figures have assailed general aviation as a nuisance or a security threat. The EAA Young Eagles Program can help to dispel those misconceptions and show people in communities all across the nation the commercial, economic, educational, inspirational, and recreational value of general aviation.

Parent Frequently Asked Questions

What is EAA?
Why was the EAA Young Eagles program started?
What do you hope to gain by taking my child flying?
Who are the Pilots?
How does my child become a Young Eagle?
What will the flight be like?
What happens to the registration form?

What is EAA?
EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, is an international aviation membership association founded in 1953 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. More than 170,000 people currently belong to EAA, with local Chapters located in all 50 states and many countries. Members are aviation enthusiasts of every age group, including many airline and commercial pilots, engineers, business people and even astronauts. They enjoy all types of airplanes, including "experimental" aircraft, those aircraft built by individual craftsmen, rather than in a factory. “Experimental” refers to the category of aircraft designed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for these types of airplanes. Similar to standard category aircraft, Experimental aircraft are inspected and certified airworthy by FAA. EAA’s corporate offices and extensive AirVenture Museum are located in Oshkosh. EAA is a 501(c) 3 organization, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. EAA hosts one of the world's largest general aviation events, the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Fly-In. The event draws more than 700,000 people and 10,000 aircraft to Oshkosh each summer. www.eaa.org; www.airventure.org.

Why was the EAA Young Eagles program started?
The EAA Young Eagles Program was developed in 1992 to welcome young people into the world of aviation. Aviation is exciting and vital to our nation's future and the best way to convey that message is to actually experience flight in a first-hand setting.

What do you hope to gain by taking my child flying?
Each EAA Young Eagle will experience a safe and enjoyable flight that will give them new perspectives on the world and life in general. We feel that Young Eagles program participants will understand that an individual's potential is unlimited and for them, the sky is the limit!

Who are the Pilots?
The pilots who are participating in the Young Eagles program are local members of EAA who are volunteering their time and aircraft to make your child’s flight possible. Each pilot is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (or governing organization outside the U.S., such as Transport Canada) and all aircraft are likewise licensed by the government. The flights will be conducted according to federal regulations. No aerobatic maneuvers will be performed.

How does my child become a Young Eagle?
If your child is between the ages of eight and 17, find the Young Eagle Coordinator near you. As a parent, you'll need to complete a Young Eagle registration form that is available from your pilot. They can help you fill out the form and answer any other specific questions you may have.

What will the flight be like?
First of all, your pilot will explain what will happen during the flight. This might include talking about the airplane; reviewing an aeronautical chart and identifying reference points during the flight; completing a careful "walk around" preflight inspection of the airplane and identifying the parts that control the airplane; helping buckle your child's seat belt and describing the interior of the airplane, including the instrument panel. Once in the air, your child will see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way. They will experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many people only dream about. Many people remember this experience for the rest of their lives. The length of the flight will depend on many factors, but most Young Eagle flights last between 15 and 20 minutes. Once back on the ground, there will be additional time for questions after the flight. Please note that each pilot is encouraged to follow the Young Eagle pilot guidelines, but also has the freedom to customize the flight to make the most of local conditions and facilities.

What happens to the registration form?
After the flight is completed, the pilot will issue your child the official EAA Young Eagles certificate. The pilot then returns the registration form to the EAA Young Eagles office where the flight will be officially registered in the World's Largest Logbook. You and your child will be able to see the flight information on the Internet at www.youngeagles.org. At the same time, we understand that privacy is important. Only basic information is displayed on the web and your address and phone number will never become part of the public database. We will send your child follow up information from EAA about our other youth aviation programs and scholarships. Space is provided on the registration form for an E-Mail address. The E-mail address will be used to add your child to the monthly Young Eagles electronic newsletter. You may opt out of the newsletter subscription at any time and there is no charge for the newsletter. Your child's name and E-mail address will not be sold or used for commercial purposes. We are sensitive to keeping your child's contact information confidential.

EAA actively encourages young people to share in the joys and professional careers open to them in aviation. Below are some of the programs sponsored by EAA.