Young Eagles rallies and individual flights by EAA-member pilots are expected to introduce at least 5,000 kids worldwide to flight in one day alone. Tucker will fly a Young Eagle on June 12 and dedicate his air show performances in Smyrna, Tennessee on June 14-15 to Young Eagles and the program’s volunteer pilots.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin (PRWEB)
Each year, thousands of volunteers worldwide introduce nearly 80,000 young people to flight through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. On International Young Eagles Day, Saturday, June 14, thousands of kids are expected to take their first flight in a general aviation airplane, expanding their horizons and introducing them to new career paths.
To kick off the hundreds of Young Eagles rallies this coming weekend, the program’s chairman and legendary aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker will introduce local teen Kory Cooke to a first flight on Thursday, June 12 as Tucker prepares for The Great Tennessee Air Show taking place June 14-15 in Smyrna, Tenn. On June 14, Tucker will celebrate International Young Eagles Day by dedicating his performance to this year’s new Young Eagles and volunteers.
“Young Eagles is not just a program to fly kids, but a movement to inspire kids, parents and communities through the many aspects of aviation,” said Tucker. “Flight has enriched my life and countless others’ lives. International Young Eagles Day is an opportunity to share the magic of aviation and all the possibilities it presents whether for a career or sheer enjoyment.”
Young Eagles are flown in both EAA Chapter flight rallies and by individual EAA-member pilots. In addition, thousands of other EAA members will volunteer on the ground to ensure the flight experience is positive and educational.
“While we encourage Young Eagles flights throughout the year, International Young Eagles Day allows us to emphasize EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation to this new generation,” said Brian O’Lena, manager, EAA Young Eagles and Youth Pathways. “We urge all EAA members to make sure that young people in their areas have the opportunity to discover flying on that day.”
For more information about flying Young Eagles or locating a Young Eagles rally, contact the Young Eagles office at 920-426-6114 or at http://www.youngeagles.org.
About EAA EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 185,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft.
About Young Eagles Since Young Eagles began in 1992, more than 44,000 EAA Young Eagles volunteer pilots and countless volunteer crew have provided a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in a general aviation aircraft for young people, primarily between the ages of 8 and 17. To date, more than 1.8 million Young Eagles have been registered, with thousands of them becoming aviators and pursuing their own dreams of flight. Once registered Young Eagles have access to scholarships, flight training opportunities, online resources, free student membership to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, free access to more than 300 science and technology museums, and more.
About Sean D. Tucker Sean D. Tucker is one of the world’s best aviators and aerobatic pilots. What started as a quest to conquer a fear of flying has evolved into his being named one of 25 Living Legends of Flight by the National Air and Space Museum. As a Living Legend of Flight, Tucker is in an elite group of aviators and astronauts that includes General Jimmy Doolittle, General ‘Chuck’ Yeager, Bob Hoover, Gene Cernan and John Glenn. Since his air show beginnings in 1976, Tucker has flown more than 1,200 performances at over 475 airshows in front of more than 105 million fans.