In only ten years, over 40,000 EAA member pilots in over 90 countries around the world have volunteered to share the joy of flight with over 1.3 MILLION young people from 8 to 17 years old, as part of the EAA Young Eagles program. These flight experiences are free and are intended to open young people's eyes to the wonderful world of aviation and aerospace, as well as to the incredibly beauty and pure joy of flight.

In many cases, these young people have been inspired to new goals... many young airline and commercial pilots today will tell you that a Young Eagles flight played a role in their aviation involvement. Of course, not every single kid who takes a ride in a plane grows up to be a professional pilot. But for kids growing up in today's world with so many competing influences and pressures... many of them negative or destructive... opening their eyes to a whole new and positive experience like flying can make a real difference in their outlook on life. We've seen it happen time and time again.

The greatest resource in our world is our children and their unlimited potential to change the world, either for the better or for the worse. Just how they use that potential is of great concern. For all the negative stuff we hear about "kids today", unfortunately we tend to forget that kids really want and need to have real goals in their lives, and with the proper direction there is nothing they can't do! It is the hope of all those involved in Young Eagles that some of the many kids that take a flight will discover something much more significant than just an airplane ride.

If you ask Young Eagles volunteers and pilots why they are involved in Young Eagles, most of them will say that the kid's reaction to experiencing the joy of flying is their reward. Seeing the smile of a kid who is realizing for the first time that there is a whole new world out there (or up there, as the case may be!) is an experience that no pilot ever forgets, and soemthing that keeps them coming back time and time again to share the joy of flight with more kids.

Whether it's taking up dozens of young people during a weekend Young Eagles rally, or a single flight after work with the kids from next door, pilots know that aviation is something too wonderful to keep to themselves. When a young person takes a Young Eagles flight, they get a Young Eagles certificate and are entered into the "World's Largest Logbook". But many kids have gotten much more... memories for a lifetime, and in many cases, it is remembered as an experience that truly opened their eyes to a whole new perspective on life.

For More Info...

We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions that can help explain more about the Young Eagles program. You should also check out EAA's official Young Eagles website, which has a lot of great information and is fun to read, whether you're a parent, young person, or pilot.

Local Young Eagles Flights

Many EAA Chapters around the world host periodic Young Eagles rallies and events. Most pilots are also happy to make arrangements for a YE flight at other times as well. If you have any questions about local Young Eagles flights, please contact our Young Eagles Coordinator, Joe Blaha.