| Background |
In 1991, the EAA Aviation Foundation
conducted a survey of long-time Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA) members to help determine the organization’s future
priorities. Nearly 92 percent said EAA’s primary objective
should be to involve more young people in aviation. The survey
also showed that a flight experience, provided by a relative
or friend, helped guide the respondents toward aviation. On May
13, l992, following several months of coordination by members
of the EAA and Foundation Boards of Directors, EAA management,
staff and volunteers, the Young Eagles Program was announced
at a Washington, D.C., news conference. |
| Mission |
The mission of the Young Eagles
Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience - free of
charge - for 1 million young people (primarily between the ages
of 8 and 17) by the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’
first powered flight (December 17, 2003). |
| First Flights |
The program took flight during the
1992 EAA Fly-In Convention in Oshkosh, Wis. EAA President Tom
Poberezny and Academy Award winning actor and pilot Cliff Robertson
flew the first Young Eagles on July 31, 1992. In addition, Robertson
served as the program’s first Honorary Chairman. Since 1994,
General Gen. Chuck Yeager, the first person to fly faster than
the speed of sound, has served as Chairman. |
| Current Status |
As of Thursday, November 13, 2003,
the Young Eagles program has registered more than 1 million Young
Eagles. |
| Pilots |
More than 35,000 EAA member pilots
have participated in the program. Pilots volunteer their time
and aircraft to make the flights possible. In addition, countless
thousands of other volunteers and supporters assist the program
in a variety of roles. |
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