FFCAP
Young Eagles Program
In 1992, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
started a program called
Young Eagles which offers flights in general aviation aircraft to
kids of ages 8 through 17. These flights are offered at no
cost, through the generosity of EAA volunteers.
To date some 1.5 million (!!!) Young Eagles have been introduced to aviation
through this program in more than 90 different countries. These missions have
been flown by some 40,000 volunteer pilots.
Many of you will know the actor Harrison Ford from his roles in
movies such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,
and Clear and Present Danger (to mention just a few). But what
many people do not know, is that Harrison Ford is an accomplished pilot
and EAA member who has flown some 250 kids on Young Eagle flights.
He was also the Chairman for the EAA Young Eagles program for four years
starting in March, 2005.
In September 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully"
Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffery Skiles - famous for their heroic
emergency landing of an airliner in New York's Hundson River just 8 months
earlier - became the current co-chairs of the program. Pictured from left to
right are Sullenberger, Skiles and Ford.
Previous EAA Young Eagles Program chairs include Oscar winning actor and avid
pilot Cliff Robertson (1992-1993) and aviation legend Chuck Yeager (1994-2003).
Many FFCAP members who belong to the EAA donate their time and aircraft for
these events, while many other FFCAP members remain on the ground to provided
logistical support for these events.
Fallbrook Air Park usually hosts Young Eagles events twice a year through the
efforts of FFCAP volunteers in conjunction with the French Valley
EAA Chapter 1279. The dates
typically fall on a Saturday in the months of April and October.
Our next Young Eagle event will be held on April 15, 2017. Participation
is normally limited to kids who are pre-registered, including overflow from
prior events. If you know a youngster who would like to take his/her first ride
in an airplane, please contact Young Eagles Coordinator Peter Griffiths by
e-mail at
peter.griffiths@roadrunner.com.
Provide name, age, address, phone number, e-mail address and adult contact. For
additional information and to register online for this event, please
click here.
Click
here to visit the picture gallery hosted on EAA Chapter 1279's web
site to see photos from the past event.
|