“It’s been great to see Young Eagles activity return to pre-pandemic levels,” David Leiting, Jr., Eagles program manager, said in a statement. “We thank all our pilots and ground support volunteers, who are planting those seeds with young people that will keep aviation vibrant for years to come.”

This year also marked a change in leadership for Young Eagles as former NFL All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham moved from the program’s co-chair to chairman. Already an active Young Eagles pilot, Graham succeeds airshow legend Sean D. Tucker, who spent a decade leading the program.

More Pilots Needed

Young Eagles flights are organized through local EAA chapters. Sometimes there are individual flights or daylong rallies where volunteer pilots take children between the ages of 8 and 17 for short flights.

There’s always a need for more pilots, Leiting said, noting that EAA added 700 new volunteer pilots this year. 

“As the old guard begins to hang up the headset, it is imperative that new volunteer pilots begin participating,” Leiting said. “There is always an abundance of youth thrilled to take their first flight, while the volunteer pilots can be the limiting factor. I challenge any pilot who is not involved in the program to consider flying just a handful of Young Eagles each year. It will provide you with a great reason to fly, you’ll be paying it forward to the next generation, and I promise you that the reaction out of these youth will be the best part of the experience.”

Most Young Eagles events are more than a ride in an airplane. Many EAA chapters offer an age-appropriate ground school. Sporty’s Pilot Shop, which is a program sponsor, offers the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course at no charge to participants who want to take the next step and continue their aviation education.

In addition, EAA’s growing AeroEducate program provides free online resources for Young Eagles of all levels who want to explore more about the world of flight.

There are plans for more post-flight follow-up, Leiting said. Those include Young Eagles Flight Plan, which provides youths with a free EAA membership, free access to the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, reimbursement for the FAA knowledge exam, a $160 voucher toward a flight lesson, and enrollment in EAA AeroEducate. 

“It is so important that parents and their kids know about this program, so they can continue to explore aviation after their flight,” Leiting said.

The post Young Eagles Pass 2M Youth Flight Mark appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“This is a huge milestone for our chapter and all the volunteers involved,” says EAA chapter president and Young Eagles pilot Mike Baer. “We all love aviation, and being able to share the magic of flying with so many kids is very special.”

Chapter 579, based at Aurora Municipal Airport (KARR), formed in 1977, a full 15 years before EAA created the Young Eagles program, which is designed to give children ages 8 to 17 a chance to fly in a small aircraft. Today, the chapter is composed of pilots of all experience levels from students and professionals to aviation engineers and enthusiasts, and aircraft builders.

According to Baer, May to October is Young Eagles season. On the third Sunday of the month (weather permitting), chapter pilots and dedicated ground crew volunteer their time to share the joy of aviation.

Baer notes that flying Young Eagles is the best thing a person can do with their pilot certificate.

“We usually will have eight to 10 airplanes and 15 to 20 ground volunteers,” he says. “From working registration to flightline marshallers to ride pilots, it requires a lot of people to make these Young Eagle rallies happen. And these volunteers don’t just give their time and aircraft to the cause. They all share their passion for flying to every kid that comes by.” 

For the 20,000th flight rally, there was an eclectic collection of aircraft, including a Cessna 150, 170, 182, and six 172s, along with a Piper Pacer, a Hatz CB-1 biplane, and an American Champion Scout on amphibious floats.

“Over the years, we have also seen Cessna Skymasters, Cessna 177s, Cessna 195s, a variety of Vans RV aircraft, a Quicksilver ultralight, and a squadron of other aircraft that helped us reach 20,000,” Baer says.

While all Young Eagles rallies are fun, this one was made extra special as Chris Gauger, a representative from EAA, was there to present a special trophy to recognize the chapter for its efforts.

The chapter uses EAA’s online registration system to space out the flights during the day so that no one is waiting around for long. There are also child and family appropriate aviation activities, such as a miniature and age-appropriate ground school to keep the visitors busy and entertained while they wait for their turn in the aircraft.

“In addition, we have a tent set up with a flight simulator, allowing the kids to learn basic flight controls while still on the ground,” says Baer. “We also have a static display aircraft that we make available for viewing by siblings who are interested in climbing into an aircraft but are still a bit too young to fly as a Young Eagle, and we, of course, have a souvenir tent where we sell EAA 579 hats and T-shirts to help cover some of our expenses.”

For more information on EAA Chapter 579, visit them on Facebook. 

For more information on the next Chapter 579 flight rally, visit:  EAA Young Eagles Day | EAA | EAA Young Eagles Day Online Registration site

For more information on the EAA’s Young Eagles program, visit:  www.youngeagles.org

The post EAA Chapter Marks 20,000 Young Eagles Flights appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On Thursday night, the council will vote on a resolution, but that doesn’t mean the Portage Municipal Airport (C47) will close, stressed city administrator Michael Bablick.

According to Bablick, the resolution as written directs city staff to contact the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and the FAA to determine what steps would need to be taken to shut down the 106-acre, city-owned facility and potentially sell the property to a developer. 

Bablick, who has served in his role with the city for just a few months, said  the airport has been a topic of discussion for decades.

Leif Gregerson, president of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 371 based at the airport,  pointed out that what makes the airport property so valuable is its field elevation of 824 feet, which puts the land above the floodplain for the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. 

“There have been grumblings about closure of the airport for years,” Gregorson said. “It is in the city limits, one of the few spots considered prime building location because most of the city is located on wetlands.”

According to Airnav.com, there are 21 single-engine aircraft based at the airport. Most of the traffic is transient, as the airport is a popular destination for cross-country flights.

Gregerson said that during EAA AirVenture, the aviation convention that attracts pilots from all over the world, the airport gets very busy as a popular fuel stop or a divert airport when Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh is closed because of the air show or field capacity—or when the weather turns sour.

“We’re just 50 miles away from Oshkosh,” Gregorson said, “which makes the airport very convenient for pilots. Our EAA chapter sells food during that time, so the pilots don’t have to walk down the street to the convenience store.”

Other EAA activities held year-round include Young Eagles rallies and pancake breakfasts, which Gregerson said are usually well attended.

Airport History

Portage Municipal Airport was privately constructed by the Mael family in the early 1940s. The airport has two runways: 18/36, measuring 3,770 by 60 feet, and 4/22 ( 2,688 by 40). At the time, the property was a flat spot outside of town.

“In 1961 the Mael family donated the airport to the city,” said Bablick, adding that it costs the city approximately $100,000 a year to operate the facility, representing about 1.25 percent of its annual budget.

Over the decades, the city grew to a population of approximately 10,500, and the airport is surrounded by light industry and housing developments. In addition, it is hemmed in by infrastructure.

“Interstate 39 is extraordinarily close to the airport on the north, and on the south end are high tension wires, cutting off the ability to expand the north-south runway,” Bablick said.

“The high tension wires shouldn’t have been put there,” Gregerson said. “The city didn’t have the foresight to create ordinances and setbacks to protect the airport. The city did not establish any ordinances that would have protected the airport against encroachment by businesses and residential development or height restrictions.”

As an example, Gregerson, a 20-year pilot, mentioned that at one point the city was using land off the extended centerline of the runway as a dumping ground for brush and weeds cleaned up from different parts of the city. The pile grew so tall that it became a hazard for air traffic, forcing the airport manager to take the issue to public works to get it relocated so it was not situated off the end of the runway.

“The city is not anti-airport,” said Bablick, noting the idea of building a new airport in a different location has been discussed since 1965. “When there was a development plan for the airport, [it] noted deficiencies of the current property, which included the inability to extend the runway. People have been saying ‘we’re 20 years away from a new airport’ for 30 years. Twenty years ago, the city purchased farmland to the north to build a new airport, but it didn’t work out, and that resulted in bad blood with the FAA.”

Bablick said the city has never accepted funds from either the state bureau of aeronautics or the FAA for airport improvements, although the airport could benefit from infrastructure enhancements like new pavement. When an airport sponsor accepts state or federal grant funds, it often comes with the caveat that the facility must stay open and  for a specific amount of time, perhaps as long as 20 years, depending on the size of the grant.

The airport is part of the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021-2025 as a general aviation facility, even though the city has never accepted funds from the FAA or the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics.

The state bureau referred questions from FLYING to the city of Portage, and the FAA did not respond to queries by press time.

The Pilots React

When the aviation community learned of the resolution to explore the closure process, it was quick to sound the alarm. Portage city hall has been flooded with emails and phone calls urging the council to vote against the resolution to keep the airport open.

The resolution is expected to be heard at the August 24 meeting at the municipal building council chambers, located at 115 West Pleasant Street in Portage. The meeting, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CDT, will also be broadcast on YouTube at the following link:

The post Future Looks Questionable for Portage Airport in Wisconsin appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Young Eagles is a national program designed to give free flight experiences to children ages 8-17. Pilots volunteer for these events which are held all over the country, often spending all day at the airport providing 20 minute flights to the participants.

• READ MORE: Whiteman Airport Gears up for Milestone Young Eagles Flight

On November 26 some 140 children were signed up to fly. According to a statement from EAA Chapter 40, pilots came from as far away as Santa Barbara to help, making sure that  every child present would get a ride. Among the airplanes participating were a Van’s RV-7, a Grumman American Tiger, a Cessna 182, a Navion, and a Rutan Varieze.

Young Eagle lucky number 10,000 was 16-year-old Elicia Koehnlein, a member of the local Aviation Explorers post. Koehnlein, wearing a borrowed flight suit and helmet, had the opportunity to fly in an L-39 Albatros owned and piloted by Denis Oliver, the founder of Jet 1—a civilian fighter jet world championship where pilots fly real fighter-jets in a laser tag battle with gamers—and a member of EAA Chapter 40.

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer designed and produced in the Czech Republic.

• READ MORE: Aero L-39NG Certification Opens Up New Sales for Popular Jet Trainer

Rally organizers noted the event would not have happened were it note for the entire EAA Chapter 40 Staff with the association of James Miller, Civil Air Patrol Commander, the Whiteman CAP, plus the Whiteman Air Explorers.

At KWHP, the Young Eagles rallies are held every fourth Saturday, weather permitting, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Whiteman Airport sits on 184 acres in the San Fernando Valley. The airport traces its heritage to 1946, when businessman Marvin Whiteman Sr. developed an airpark. The facility became property of the county of Los Angeles in 1970 and today, the towered airport is a reliever for Los Angeles International (KLAX).

To Find A Young Eagles Flight

To find a Young Eagles Flight near you, visit youngeaglesday.org. The page contains information about Young Eagles flights provided by EAA chapters around the country. To find the one closest to you, input your zip code. Advanced registration is recommended.

The post Teen Takes Milestone Young Eagle Flight in L-39 Albatros appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Since 1992, pilot members of EAA have provided free flight experiences to children between the ages of 8 and 17—known as Young Eagles.

Weather permitting, the milestone flight will take place during a Young Eagles rally on November 26, between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Whiteman Airport sits on 184 acres in the San Fernando Valley. The airport traces its heritage to 1946, when businessman Marvin Whiteman Sr. developed an air park. The facility became property of the county of Los Angeles in 1970 and today, the towered airport is a reliever for Los Angeles International (KLAX).

According to Dave Kolstad, coordinator for EAA Chapter 40 Young Eagles, on the 4th Saturday of the month, volunteer pilots bring out their airplanes to provide the Young Eagle flights.

“We have been doing it for 30 years,” he said. “We are at 9,929 Young Eagles. We need 71 flights to make 10,000, and I think we can do it.”

The airport’s location in Southern California is fortunate, because the valley “usually has good weather,” Kolstad said. The flights are normally about 20 minutes long, so that all the kids can be accommodated.

Kolstad said the chapter used to fly between 15 and 20 kids each month from the local community, when an offer from a local school dramatically expanded their program. 

“Just before COVID hit, a local school came to us and said ‘we can send you 50 kids a month for Young Eagles.’ We had to go out and recruit more pilots, which we did, and now we fly between 65 to 70 Young Eagles a month.”

To Find A Young Eagles Flight

To find a Young Eagles Flight near you, visit Youngeaglesday.org. The page contains information about Young Eagles flights provided by EAA chapters around the country. To find the one closest to you, input your zip code. Advanced registration is recommended.

According to Youngeaglesday.org, as of November 9, nearly 2.3 million Young Eagles have flown introductory flights.

Kolstad said it’s hard to tell who gets the most out of a Young Eagles rally. 

“The grins are just as big on the pilot’s faces as they are on the kid’s,” he said.

If the weather is not conducive to flight on November 26, the Young Eagles Rally will take place on December 17, which is also the anniversary of powered flight. On that date in 1903, the Wright Flyer flew for 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

The post Whiteman Airport Gears up for Milestone Young Eagles Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Recently, I’ve seen a question surface which I’m perhaps uniquely qualified to answer: Is there an advantage to starting flight training before graduating high school? How young is too young? Is there an ideal age?

Technically there is no minimum age to start flight training, a fact I discovered as an aviation- stricken 13-year old who had just taken the stick for the first time on an EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagles ride. I called the local FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) and managed to get a hapless inspector on the phone; he confirmed that one must be 16 years old to solo and 17 to earn one’s private pilot certificate in an airplane (14 and 16, respectively, in a glider), but there is no minimum age to begin dual instruction with a flight instructor. 

“Can you reach the rudder pedals in a Cessna 150?” he asked. I didn’t know. A week later, an introductory flight confirmed that I could, with the aid of a pillow. I started taking lessons, scrimping and saving $56 (!) for an hour of dual at the end of each month. I soloed on my 16th birthday and passed my private pilot check ride on my 17th. Today, at the age of 41, I’ve been flying more than two-thirds of my life and have some 15,000 hours of flight time—nearly two full years spent airborne.

In retrospect, I’m a little ambivalent about the path I took. It worked for me because I was utterly obsessed with flight at 13 years old and too impatient to wait a few years—actively flying kept me focused through my teen years. Considering the fact that I was a broke kid paying out of pocket, starting early helped spread the cost over four years. Had I waited, it’s quite possible my interest and my scant earnings would have wandered. And yet I’m keenly aware that the way I did it was less than efficient, and isn’t necessarily the best path for every interested youth.

Law of Recency

Any flight instructor will tell you that a month between lessons is way too long (“law of recency”).

You forget a great deal over a month, particularly when the skill is so fresh, meaning that each subsequent lesson wastes time reteaching things. In my opinion, the most efficient pace for learning to fly is one to two lessons a week. Starting early means that even if you retain the information well, you are likely to exceed the required hours by a good bit. In 1997, I soloed at 32.4 hours (having averaged 11 hours a year until then), and the next year, I got my private at 71.6 hours. Those were well above-average numbers back in the pre-TAA (technically advanced airplane) age. If you’re looking for maximum efficiency, I would not start as early as I did—I’d wait until 15 or 16.

That said, I do think that taking flight training before graduating high school is an excellent idea for any youth interested in a flying career (including those planning on a military track). I’ve taught primary students in both traditional and accelerated settings, and I rather strongly feel that the private certificate shouldn’t be rushed, because it introduces so many new skills and fundamental knowledge that will be built upon over the course of one’s career. 

For anyone considering a pilot career, private pilot training should afford one the chance to fall in love with flying and assess whether you’re well suited to it, without the pressure of having already entered a collegiate program or aviation academy. I’ve come across too many recent stories of primary students getting utterly burned out before they’ve even experienced the magic of their first solo cross-country flight.

Now, it’s true that some programs won’t give you full credit for a private certificate earned outside of a Part 141 or collegiate setting. In my case, a local community college gave me full credit for my private while I was in high school, which allowed me to transfer into the University of North Dakota’s flight program without taking their private pilot test course. If this is not an option for you—and you have your heart set on a program that is not transfer-friendly—consider training at your local FBO just through your first solo, perhaps during your senior year of high school. It will give you a good taste of what flying is about, and will likely allow you to go through your subsequent school’s private pilot course in the minimum allotted hours (a rarity these days). If you are aiming for a military flight slot, prior flight experience will give you a leg up over other applicants in the ultra-competitive selection process and rigorous initial training.

Sustaining Motivation

Looking back at my early flight training, I realize that those first few years of monthly lessons served more to keep me interested and motivated than anything, and there are cheaper ways to do that. One of the best is the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program, so long as you don’t mind its quasi-military flavor (which varies considerably by wing and squadron, according to the tastes of the local commanders). Another is the Experimental Aircraft Association; most chapters involve youth in building and restoration projects, which is an excellent way to gain aviation knowledge while meeting local pilots and getting invited to fly in their airplanes. Many chapters also offer scholarships for youth flight training. For those who live near a soaring club, gliders offer a fantastic introduction to the fundamentals of flight in a communal setting. And lastly, flying with friends and family who are not instructors can be a cost-effective option in one’s early teens and prior, even if you can’t log the hours. Any prior experience will make subsequent flight training more effective, giving you more bang for your buck.

All this said, if you or your child is an aviation-obsessed early teen or preteen who just can’t wait to start lessons, and you can make it work financially, there is nothing in primary training that a reasonably intelligent kid can’t readily grasp. Learning to fly delivers a great deal of enjoyment and confidence at an age when “grown-up” activity options are generally limited. I’m grateful that my parents gave me the freedom to fly as early as they did; as a result, I have a lifetime of flying to look back on, with many fond memories throughout.

The post What Is the Right Age To Start Flight Training? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“It is an honor to celebrate Harrison Ford, the illustrious actor, pilot, and passionate aviation advocate for his volunteer work with Young Eagles, humanitarian and aircraft rescue efforts,” George Butts, president of Aero Club of Southern California, said in a statement.

The Howard Hughes Memorial Award honors leaders who advanced the fields of aviation or aerospace technology. Other winners of the award include Neil Armstrong and General Chuck Yeager. 

Ford and Aviation

Ford is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. He became interested in becoming a pilot in the 1960s while flying in a Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer. Due to the cost—$15 an hour—Ford had to stop his training early on. 

In the 1990s, after Ford’s acting career took off, he was able to purchase a used Gulfstream II. His Gulfstream pilot, Terry Bender, began to give Ford flight lessons to continue his training. 

Ford served as the program chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles  program for five years, where he shared his love of flying with children. During his time as chairman, Ford flew more than 280 children in his DHC-2 Beaver. 

• READ MORE: Harrison Ford Receives Aero Club of New England’s Godfrey L. Cabot Award

In 2010, he led an Operation Smile airlift for Haiti earthquake victims. Ford also acts as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in Teton County, Wyoming, and as an honorary board member of the humanitarian aviation organization, Wings of Hope. Ford is also vice chair of Conservation International.

He’s also made lasting contributions in Washington, D.C., advocating for pilots’ rights. 

“The Aero Club’s mission is to honor the giants of aviation and aerospace while providing generous scholarships to students pursuing an education in either field,” Butts said in the same statement. “We look forward to bringing industry professionals and the public together to recognize Mr. Ford this June and to celebrate the visibility he brings to the aviation and aerospace industries through his aviation accomplishments and iconic film career.”

Harrison Ford’s name will be added to the Howard Hughes Memorial trophy, joining the previous 42 award winners. 

The post Harrison Ford to Receive Howard Hughes Memorial Award appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

It is this very concept that has made the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Young Eagles program so successful. Launched in 1992, volunteer pilots in the Young Eagles program have been giving youth ages 8 to 17 their first free ride in an airplane at EAA chapter events across the country. As of March 17, there had been 2,245,710 Young Eagles flown, and for Greg Bednark, a volunteer Young Eagles pilot in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, making those flights in his Flight Design CT, Rans S7, or Carbon Cub SS light sport airplanes has been a very gratifying endeavor.

A Safe, Economical, and Fun Platform

“Every time my wheels leave the ground, it takes all of the day’s pressures and worries away,” Bednark said. “I see the same excitement in the Young Eagles I’ve flown. I love their smiles as they look at Earth from a bird’s-eye view. Every time I give a Young Eagle ride, I’m hoping to open another young individual’s eyes to a world that is often unknown to them.”

Bednark’s LSAs have provided him with great economy when flying Young Eagles plus additional benefits. 

“The CT and Rans both have 100-horsepower Rotax engines, and can burn as little as two gallons per hour just sightseeing, and up to six gallons per hour in cruise. The Carbon Cub SS has a Titan 340 engine that can use as little as three gallons per hour,” he said. 

The seating arrangement found in many LSAs makes one of the best platforms for giving Young Eagle rides, Bednark explains. 

“The side-by-side configuration makes the flight personal because pilot and passenger are sitting alongside each other where the Young Eagle can more closely monitor their experience. It does seem like they are happier because they are up in the cockpit and can feel the inputs instantly when they take the stick. I dislike tandem seating because it’s not as easy to interact with the Young Eagle when they are in the back seat,” he said.

Bednark pointed out one particular Young Eagle that had his aviation fire lit by his first airplane ride at an EAA event. 

“Tyler was just 16 years old and came to one of our events to volunteer. I gave him his first Young Eagles ride after the event in one of my LSAs. He joined our chapter, was accepted for the Ray Aviation Scholarship, and finished his private pilot license in three months. He became our chapter’s youngest president at 17 years old and is currently attending North Dakota State University working on his aviation degree. It was a privilege to give up the reins to the younger generation.”

Flying, Up Close and Personal

Along with the obvious cost savings of burning less fuel when flying Young Eagles in an LSA, offering this introduction to flight in a two-place airplane makes perfect sense, according to EAA.

“Light sport aircraft make great vehicles for providing Young Eagles flights,” said David Leiting Jr., EAA’s Young Eagles program manager. “Not only are they economical to operate, but by nature, they provide the best flight experience. Being a two-seat aircraft assures the youth a front-row view of the entire flight’s mechanics, versus being seated in the rear of a four-place aircraft where you can’t see the pilot work the flight controls, radios, etc. Additionally, the view from most LSAs is improved over a conventional four-place aircraft, especially for those youth who are a bit smaller. For all of these reasons, many of my 50 Young Eagles flights have been given in an LSA; either a Zenith 750 or RV-12iS.”

The Possibilities Are Endless

While EAA does not have specific data on how many of these Young Eagle flights have sparked a love of aviation that ultimately resulted in that young passenger going on to earn their pilot’s license, EAA indicates it is a safe bet to assume there have been many aviation careers launched because of this program.

“We know that thousands of today’s pilots under age 40 received one of their first engagements with aviation through Young Eagles,” said Dick Knapinski, EAA’s director of communications. “That includes those flying for airlines, in the military, and in every college aviation program in America.”

When a pilot pushes the throttle of an LSA forward and they watch as that Young Eagle next to them looks down for the very first time from a GA airplane, the pilot always hopes a spark has been lit. If that spark ends up being a fire that produces a lifelong love of aviation, that pilot and their LSA will have given a gift to a young boy or girl that only GA pilots can give. 

If you want to see how good it feels to watch a kid’s face light up as your gear leaves the runway, go here and find out more on becoming a Young Eagles volunteer pilot.

The post LSAs Offer Many Benefits for Flying EAA Young Eagles appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

When he first put pen to paper for his dream to introduce more young people to aviation, Lt. Col. Kenyatta Ruffin knew exactly who he needed to reach: youth in underserved populations across the US. Ruffin had gained so much from his hard work and the opportunities presented to him through his military service that he asked himself, “How can I pay it forward?” Ruffin was introduced to aviation through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals in 1994, then appointed to the Air Force Academy as a cadet in July 1999. With increasing responsibility through a career as an F-16 fighter pilot, he rose to command the 71st Operations Support Squadron at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in May 2020.

One of the biggest differences between successful leaders and those who don’t fully achieve their dreams is the role of teammates and support. Ruffin co-founded Legacy Flight Academy in 2012, but it wasn’t until he partnered with Kenneth “KT” Thomas and Aaron Jones that LFA’s success really began. Primarily located at Moton Field in Alabama—the home base of the Tuskegee Airmen, the cadre of African American pilots who excelled as a squadron in World War II—LFA has grown to touch the lives of more than 1,500 youth through, in Ruffin’s words, “pre-discovery flights” and much more. “[We’ve] provided flights to primarily youth from underrepresented groups since 2015,” Jones says. “Banner years were 2017 and 2018 when we flew nearly 500 youth each year, and [our] ultimate goal is to fly 996 annually—the same number of pilots from the ‘Tuskegee Airmen Experiment.’ Our other outreach efforts are just as impressive, annually reaching over 10,000 youth, family and influencers.”

LFA not only exposes young people to aviation—giving them that first flight—but also connects them with folks who represent their demographic. That’s not an easy proposition: It remains the case that fewer than 2 percent of commercial and military pilots are people of color. While LFA targets its mission to Black and other underserved communities, the programs it delivers—and its message—reaches across all genders, ethnicities and backgrounds.

Using a three-pronged approach (“Know, live and grow the legacy”) to connect youth with opportunity, LFA provides awareness and inspiration, features an engaging roster of activities, and delivers ongoing opportunities to help young people understand the scope of the aviation industry and explore careers within it. Their Passion, Attitude, Responsibility program serves as the primary vehicle for LFA’s outreach at career fairs, open houses and other venues, while their Eyes Above the Horizon program is a one-day seminar to introduce students to the Tuskegee Airmen and current Black aviation professionals.

Read More: Learn to Fly

Most of the LFA leadership consists of minority military aviators, such as Thomas (an Air Force Reserves C-130 navigator, CFI and aspiring airline pilot) and Jones (an F-15E fighter pilot). LFA also thrives on its wide array of volunteers, such as the public relations coordinator Ben Ayivorh, who is a former Air Force Thunderbirds crew chief turned F-15C pilot. Therefore, LFA programs have taken place at Air Force bases and other airports across the country, bringing together military and civilian leaders, pilots, and aviation educators with children from local school districts for a day of presentations on engineering, technology, history and science. Often, the EAH programs leverage local Experimental Aircraft Association chapters to provide Young Eagles flights to interested students. Scholarships are awarded as well to help young people who are ready to fly fulfill those dreams.

According to Thomas, 2020 held challenges but didn’t stop the outreach. “We had to shift a bit because of the pandemic,” Thomas says. But roughly 75 first flights still took place on a more individual basis to adapt to the times. For 2021, LFA plans two or three Legacy Flight Across America seminars, concurrently hosted in five or six locations around the US. “We will give more scholarships—solo, maybe a private certificate,” along with smaller stipends for orientation flights beyond what the one-day programs can achieve.

Through connecting potential pilots with heroes such as 101-year-old Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Charles McGee—who has participated in several events—and leaders such as Ruffin, Thomas and Jones, LFA makes good on providing that first step into the skies for kids who might not otherwise know what was possible.

This story appeared in the 2021 Learn to Fly Special Issue of Flying Magazine

The post Legacy Flight Academy Soars appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and United Airlines are teaming up to encourage young people to pursue aviation on all levels through a variety of programs and activities that build on the strength of each organization. As part of the agreement, EAA will become the Official Youth Aviation Partner of United Airlines, while United will be the Official Airline of the Young Eagles. EAA and United will also share visibility, web portals, and links that introduce interested visitors to the programs available from each. These include the EAA’s Young Eagles, which has introduced flight to 2.2 million young people since 1992, as well as United’s Aviate program that offers aspiring and established pilots the most direct and best path to employment with United Airlines.

Captain Curtis Brunjes, United’s managing director of Aviate and pilot strategy said, “We are deeply committed, through our Aviate program, to developing the next generation of airline pilots and this partnership in youth aviation programs at EAA will enable us to better reach young pilot aspirants and the diverse talent we seek.” Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of programs, publications, and marketing, said, “United’s Aviate program offers a terrific new opportunity to provide a pathway for those Young Eagles who seek flying careers, especially with United’s reach and visibility in the communities it serves throughout the country.”

The post EAA and United Airlines Join Forces to Promote Flying Careers appeared first on FLYING Magazine.