Free flights, more for 8 to 17 year-olds

SANFORD — Area students ages 8 to 17 will have a chance to take to the skies for free on Saturday, Sept. 14, as Experimental Aircraft Association Chapters 225 and 1210 hosts a Young Eagles Flight Rally at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport.

The rally is part of the EAA Young Eagles Program, created to interest young people in aviation. Since the program was launched in 1992, Volunteer EAA pilots have flown more than 1.7 million young people who reside in more than 90 countries.

To date, 2,921 kids have flown through the program from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, organizers say.

“Free airplane rides are just part of the Flight Rally,” said Gerry Peterson, spokesman for the event. “We hope to build one-to-one relationships between pilots and young people, giving a new generation a chance to learn more about the possibilities that exist in the world of aviation.”

Pilots at the event will also explain more about their airplanes, allowing young people to discover how airplanes work and how pilots ensure safety is the prime concern before every flight.

Following the flight, each young person, will receive a certificate making them an official Young Eagle. Their name will then be entered into the “World’s Largest Logbook,” which is on permanent display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Logbook is also accessible on the Internet at www.youngeagles.org. As well, the new Young Eagle will be given a logbook with an access code for a complete free online flight training course offered by Sporty’s.

Other activities scheduled for the Flight Rally includes a pancake breakfast – donations benefit EAA Chapter225’s scholarship. Organizers say Pilots Cove Café will be serving up pancakes and plans to have specials with 20 percent of proceeds going to the scholarship fund.

Along with flight rallies, EAA members also fly Young Eagles on an individual basis. Each pilot volunteers their time and aircraft so the flights can be provided free of charge for interested young people.

Those attending the flight rally on Saturday are asked come to lobby of Southern Maine Aviation (look for signage) in the terminal building at 199 Airport Road in Sanford starting at 9 a.m. to register for their flight. Flights will begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration closing at noon.

Additional information about EAA and the EAA Young Eagles program is available on the EAA’s Home Page: www.eaa.org.

Pre-register at www.youngeaglesday.org.