EAA Young Eagles Flights: What to Expect

This past month, both of my boys had the opportunity to participate in a Young Eagles Flight and fly for the first time in their lives in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

The FREE Young Eagles Flights are offered for children between  the ages of 8 –17, allowing the child to experience a flight with an experienced EAA member volunteer in a general aviation airplane.

This program that can be found throughout the United States and around the world, designed to introduce children to the adventure of flying and encourage them to pursue an aviation career.

Sounds like a great program, doesn’t it? So, how can your child get started and what can you expect from the experience?

1) Locate a Young Eagles Coordinator near you and schedule a flight. 

2) Arrive at the airport on the day of your appointment, locate the Young Eagles registration table  and fill out a registration form.

3) Your child will be teamed up with an experienced pilot that is part of the EAA Program.

4) The pilot will give your child a brief tour of the plane that includes a pre-flight inspection of the plane and a look at the instrument panel. 

5) The flights typically last for 15 –20 minutes.  My son was excited that the pilot actually allowed him to fly the plane once they were in the air, but I don’t know if that is part of the normal routine.

6) On the ground, your child should be presented with a logbook and certificate. The  registration you completed will be submitted to the EAA Young Eagles Office and your child will officially be registered in the World’s Largest Logbook.   

The Young Eagle’s Flight Plan doesn’t stop with that first free flight, but continues with an EAA Student Membership that will allow your child to enroll in a free flight training course. After completing the first phase of ground school your child will receive a voucher for their first flight lesson free of charge. After completing the program, children are eligible to apply for scholarships to pay for flight training at the school of their choice.

My boys enjoyed their flight so much that they have both decided to pursue a pilot license. It will sure make those trips back to Ohio a lot shorter!