HARBOR SPRINGS — If your child has never experienced the thrill of flying or has been in a plane, the Young Eagles will offer a unique opportunity to do do Saturday, June 15.
In conjunction with local chapter 1087 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA, the Young Eagles and several volunteer pilots will provide free airplane rides from 9 a.m. — noon for children ages 8-17 at the Harbor Springs Airport main terminal.
Event coordinator Bill Meyer said the event will feature a host of planes and volunteer pilots.
“We will fly until everyone gets a ride,” Meyer said. “We will not turn anyone away and we invite all families to come out and check it out.”
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested youth the opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. Volunteers who participate in the Young Eagles program are local members of EAA who volunteer their time and aircraft to make flights possible.
“It’s all volunteers and it’s all free,” Meyer said. “We’re not allowed to take any compensation at all. We have a lot of volunteers that help on the ground.”
Meyer said each ride will take about 30 to 40 minutes to complete, which includes a preflight walk-around, inspection and look at the mechanical aspects of the plane.
After each participant completes their flight, they will receive a Young Eagles logbook with a code to activate a free EAA student membership. The membership unlocks opportunities and resources for youth to participate in the world of flying, including free access to learn to fly course, first flight lesson and reimbursement after passing the FAA knowledge exam (a total value of about $300).
Since its inception in 1992, Young Eagles program pilots — who number more than 42,000 — have flown more than 2 million kids.
For more information, call Meyer at (231) 838-8545 or visit www/eaa.org/youngeagles.