Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program is dedicated to giving youth 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.
It’s the only program of its kind, with the sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation.
Today, the Young Eagles program has flown over 2 million kids.
For more information from EAA headquarters about the Young Eagles program, visit www.youngeagles.org
EAA 225 Young Eagle Flight Rallies, 2020, 28th Year
EAA Chapter 225 has been involved in the EAA Aviation Foundation's Young Eagle Flight Program since its inception in 1992. Our local chapter flew eleven children that inaugural fall at a new chapter venue, EAA 225 Young Eagle Flight Rally. In our beginning, we teamed up with local EAA members & volunteers from all facets of aviation, and later with other chapters & members, and local FBO personnel; all together we have sponsored flights for more than 4000 children from all over the seacoast of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire; and that figure is constantly growing.
With ages ranging from 8 to 17, many children and teens from many communities of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts have participated in our program. We continue to improve upon the basic philosophy of one pilot one child. Today each Young Eagle Flight Rally includes: a mini-ground school to prepare each participant for their flight; we have several aviation career people including airline and FBO pilots, mechanics, and associated business personnel on hand to discuss various futures in the aviation industry with parents and children alike; we added a food concession, where all profits go to and fund our '$1000 - Aviation Scholarship', aimed at helping applicants from age 15 to 25 years old by helping them achieve either their Light Sport or Private Pilot primary license; and with lots of hangar flying to continued another important part of the aviation community.
Experiencing the thrill of a flight which is absolutely free, safe, and flown by licensed EAA pilots who volunteer themselves and their aircraft whose lives that been enhanced by aviation. "The engine roars to life, pushing you back into your seat as you cruise down the runway at full throttle. With the gentle tug on the controls, the wings bite into the wind and the ground drops away as your airplane climbs into the bright blue sky." Over one million young people worldwide have already taken a free flight. Our Young eagle activities have recently expanded yet again. Since 2007, Biddeford, Maine based EAA Chapter 1210 has accompanied us on our Young Eagle Flight Rallies. EAA 225 has hosted Young Eagle Flight Rallies in NH at Concord Regional Airport, Skyhaven Airport in Rochester, and in Maine at Sanford Regional Airport and Biddeford Airport. We continue to expand our program of introducing aviation to the young people in our surrounding communities. We love aviation as much as the youngsters, just look at the faces on the volunteers and especially our EAA Pilots when they return from each flight!
EAA 225/1210 Young Eagle Flight Rallies for 2019:
1.. Saturday May 11th, Southern Maine Aviation, Sanford, ME. (11-kids)
2. Saturday June 1st, "Wings & Wheels" Skyhaven Airport, Rochester, NH (80-kids)
3. Saturday September 14th, Southern Maine Aviation, Sanford, ME (40-kids)
4. Sunday October 13th, at Skyhaven Airport, Rochester, NH (13 kids)
Another banner year for flying (144) kids from around the seacoast communities of NH & ME with ground crews & pilots from EAA Chapters 225 (Rochester, NH), 1210 (Biddeford, ME), 141 (Limington, ME) and 1434 (Belfast, ME). A huge "Thank You" from EAA 225 goes out to everyone who helped make these events possible.