Area young people 8-17 years old will have a chance to take to the skies on Saturday, May 12, as Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1134 hosts a Young Eagles Flight Rally at Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Those attending the flight rally are asked come to Great Bend Municipal Airport starting at 8 a.m. Saturday to register for their flights. The flights will begin at 8 a.m., with registration closing at 11 a.m.
The rally is part of the EAA Young Eagles Program, created to interest young people in aviation. Since the program was launched in 1992, Volunteer EAA pilots have flown more than 2 million young people who reside in more than 90 countries.
“Free airplane rides are just part of the Flight Rally,” said Rick Schenk, spokesman for the event. “We hope to build one-to-one relationships between pilots and young people, giving a new generation a chance to learn more about the possibilities that exist in the world of aviation.”
Pilots at the event will also explain more about their airplanes, allowing young people to discover how airplanes work and how pilots ensure safety, which is the prime concern before every flight.
Following the flight, each young participant will receive a certificate making him or her an official Young Eagle. Their names will then be entered into the “World’s Largest Logbook,” which is on permanent display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wis. The Logbook is also accessible on the Internet at www.youngeagles.org.
In addition to the certificate, the new Young Eagle will be given a Logbook with an access code for a free online Flight Training course offered by Sporty’s.
Along with flight rallies, EAA members also fly Young Eagles on an individual basis. Pilot volunteer their time and aircraft so the flights can be provided free of charge for interested young people.
Additional information about EAA and the EAA Young Eagles program is available on the internet. Access to EAA’s Home Page is available at www.eaa.org. The Young Eagles website is www.youngeagles.org.