The Young Eagles is a program created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association designed to give children between the ages of 8 and 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation. The program is offered free of charge with costs covered by the volunteers. It was launched in 1992 and, by July 2024, had flown more than 2.3 million children in 90 countries, making it the most successful program of its kind in history. The presenting sponsors for it are Phillips 66 and Sporty's Pilot Shop .
34-462: Project Schoolflight , co-founded by EAA founder Paul Poberezny in 1955, served as the inspirational predecessor program to the Young Eagles, ending in 1978. In 1991, a survey of long-time EAA members was conducted to help determine the nascent 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
68-433: A fixed-base operator that sells fuel . It offers services such as avionics maintenance, hangars , and courtesy transportation and amenities such as conference rooms, vending machines , pilot supplies, a crew lounge, showers , and more. For the 12-month period ending August 24, 2021, the airport had 36,865 aircraft operations, an average of 101 per day: 98% general aviation , 2% air taxi and <1% military . This
102-403: A 3,568 x 75 ft (1,088 x 23 m) asphalt surface. The airport is served by four instrument approaches, including an RNAV (GPS) approach to both runway 4 and 22. Local television station WCPO operates a doppler weather radar at the airport. An airport viewing area is located at the southwest edge of the airport. The aircraft upholstery shop Air Mod is based at the airport. The airport has
136-451: A Baby Ace would be an ideal class project. Blacker contacted Poberenzy, who provided Baby Ace plans at no cost and together they founded Project Schoolflight. In September of that year, Blacker and his students began building their first Baby Ace for Project Schoolflight, which would be named the Spirit of Cascia , after Cascia , St. Rita's hometown. Participating in the project inspired
170-461: A chapter at the airport, operates Young Eagles rides at the airport, where volunteer pilots give kids ages 8-17 free rides in airplanes. Dedicated on October 13, 1968, the airport was managed by the husband and wife team of Randolph and Rosalie Burchett from the early 1970s through 1986. In 1971, Sporty's Pilot Shop moved from its previous location to the airport. The Clermont General and Technical College opened in 1972 on land one-half mile from
204-606: A flight experience inspired respondents toward aviation. On May 13, 1992, following several months of coordination by EAA's then-President Tom Poberezny and members of the EAA Board of Directors, management, staff and volunteers, the Young Eagles Program was unveiled at a Washington, D.C. news conference. The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in
238-453: A four month tour covering 48 states. This outreach program, flown in an Acro Sport I biplane, was intended to encourage schools to either continue in the program or to create their own Project Schoolflight programs by building an Acro Sport, a direct descendant design of the EAA Biplane . Burgess timed his tour so that his final stop would be Oshkosh, Wisconsin , to coincide with the start of
272-404: A general aviation aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of 8 and 17). Flights are provided by EAA members worldwide. The initial goal of the program was to fly one million children prior to the 100th anniversary of flight celebration (Dec. 17, 2003). That goal was achieved on November 13, 2003. An ongoing annual goal of introducing 100,000 young people to the Young Eagles experience
306-468: A new program called "Eagle Flights," which will offer rides for adults. In Canada the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association participated in the Young Eagles program between 1992 and 2008. COPA members had flown more than 81,000 Young Eagles. COPA participation was ended on May 31, 2008, due to insurance concerns. More than 43,000 pilots have participated in the program, donating their time and paying
340-435: A number of "hangar homes" had been constructed at the airport. In early 2011, the owner of the airport's fixed base operator proposed extending the airport's runway. In mid-2013, discussions were ongoing regarding the possibility of extending the runway. By early 2014, the county was attempting to buy the land necessary for the runway extension. The Clermont County Transportation Improvement District board voted to approve
374-617: A village in Clermont County , Ohio , United States . It is owned by the Clermont County Commissioners. It is also known as Sporty's Airport . The fixed-base operator is Eastern Cincinnati Aviation. The Tri-State Warbird Museum is located on the west side of the airport. The 279th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is headquartered at the airport as well. The Experimental Aircraft Association , which has
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#1732847495577408-532: A well-known person and pilot to act as Chairman and raise the profile of the program. The program's founding chairman was Academy Award -winning film actor Cliff Robertson , who served in that capacity from 1992 to 1994. Robertson was succeeded in 1994 by retired USAF General and test pilot Chuck Yeager , the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager stepped down as chairman in 2004 and, in March 2004, franchise film actor Harrison Ford became Chairman of
442-486: Is an annual fundraiser auction event to support the Young Eagles program. The organization hosts the event each year in the EAA AirVenture Museum during its EAA AirVenture Airshow. Among items auctioned were a SR-71 themed "Blackbird" Ford Mustang donated by Ford Motor Company , Jack Roush , and EAA member Carroll Shelby . One-of-a-Kind Auctioned Cars Project Schoolflight Project Schoolflight
476-578: Is the more likely that child will become a pilot, with two out of every 100 participants who are 17 years old continuing to complete a pilot certificate. The program is administered by the Young Eagles Office at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin . Since 1994, "International Young Eagles Day," a day set aside to encourage all EAA members and Chapters to participate is held annually on the second Saturday of June. At AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, EAA unveiled
510-637: The Baby Ace sport aircraft, all of which had been left abandoned in an airport hangar in Madison, Wisconsin. Early in 1955, Poberezny built a Baby Ace on which he painted to advertise Mechanix Illustrated , which had agreed to publish his project story, to include blueprints , of his Baby Ace build over three consecutive monthly issues. Robert D. Blacker, the aeronautical instructor for St. Rita of Cascia High School , read Poberenzy's story in MI and thought that building
544-631: The Greater Saint Louis Air & Space Museum . The EAA Biplane completed made its first flight at the 1961 EAA Fly-in in Rockford, Illinois and was put on permanent display in the EAA Aviation Museum , then located in Franklin, Wisconsin . In 1957, Blacker made available his high school shop for Chicago EAA Chapter #15 to hold their monthly meetings there to help expand awareness of
578-547: The "Spirit of Cascia" won an EAA award for "Outstanding Achievement" which was presented by Ray Stits . At the 1958 Fly-in, Blacker was awarded the Mechanix Illustrated Trophy for "Outstanding Achievements in Home-Built Aircraft" for his work in starting Project Schoolflight. In 1961, the Spirit of Cascia was sold to an airplane enthusiast from Pine Bluff, Arkansas . As of 2018 it resides in storage at
612-713: The 1974 fly-in there. One of the EAA Museum's centerpiece attractions is the 1903 Wright Flyer replica built by EAA and the Project Schoolflight students at Blackhawk Technical Institute in Janesville, Wisconsin , in 1978. In the summer of 1961, Bob Blacker left St. Rita's High School to work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Washington, DC . Blacker incorporated Project Schoolflight into
646-488: The EAA's Young Eagles program, giving children their first flight in a light aircraft . The Young Eagles program would serve to transition EAA from homebuilding planes to introducing young people to flying and encouraging them to become pilots. Sporty%27s Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport ( FAA LID : I69 ) is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) west of the central business district of Batavia ,
680-607: The U.S. Department of Transportation/FAA guidelines as an approved educational program. Project Schoolflight started winding down soon after the delivery of the Wright Flyer replica to the EAA Museum in 1978. However, the project served as a forerunner for EAA's follow-on Young Eagles program. In the 2001 Annual Report to EAA Members, Tom Poberezny , Paul's son and then CEO of EAA, remarked: "As we focus on Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft, we will continue to address our core programs built around homebuilder aircraft education ...
714-504: The US, with thousands of students involved. By 1961 almost 400 airplanes were being built at more than 300 schools. In addition ten American prisons used Project Schoolflight as an inmate rehabilitation program. In 1962, due to the project's success, the EAA formalized the establishment of junior EAA chapters, with members to be under 19 years of age, with an adult advisor and sponsored by a regular EAA Chapter. In 1974, EAA member Sam Burgess flew
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#1732847495577748-696: The Young Eagles program. Ford has flown more than 300 Young Eagles, including the 2-millionth Young Eagle, in several types of aircraft, and finished his five-year term in 2009. In September 2009, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles , who became famous in the US Airways Flight 1549 Hudson River ditching on 15 January 2009, were named as the program's new co-chairmen. In July 2013, aerobatic world champion pilot Sean D. Tucker replaced Sullenberger and Skiles as chairman. In July 2018, NFL tight end Jimmy Graham joined Tucker as
782-414: The airport. Plans for a 10,150 sq ft (943 m ) hangar were announced that same year, and by June, a new taxiway had been constructed. Sporty's became the new fixed base operator in 1987. In 1990, Sporty's built a new facility at the airport. Consideration was given to extending the airport runway in 1994. In 1995, the radio station WNWC began broadcasting from the airport. By 2010,
816-789: The east of the airport from Batavia Township to the Village of Batavia was denied by the Clermont County Board of Commissioners in November 2023. However, despite significant public complaint, the plan to build just under 800 homes was approved by the city's zoning board in September 2024. A subsequent meeting of the village council a few days later again saw overwhelmingly negative response. Clermont County Airport covers an area of 60 acres (24 ha) at an elevation of 844 feet (257 m) above mean sea level . It has one runway designated 4/22 with
850-458: The full cost of providing the flights for the children in their own or rented aircraft. While some pilots have only flown a few Young Eagles there are many pilots who have flown more than three thousand children. In September 2023, EAA volunteer Fred Stadler became the first Young Eagles pilot to fly 10,000 children as part of the program. He started giving Young Eagles flights in 2000. At the program's inception EAA decided to continuously recruit
884-493: The important part of the future is educational outreach programs. They started in 1956 at St. Rita High School with [Project Schoolflight...by Robert Blacker] and his students. That was a showcase initiative that touched a few kids deeply, but we wanted to do more". Because of the EAA's policies on youth education, many prominent educators visited EAA Headquarters to study the Schoolflight program. In 1992, Tom Poberezny founded
918-714: The organization's co-chairman. Rolls-Royce contributed in 2010 six flight scholarships for basic flight training, and one for advanced training toward a private pilot certificate. In May 2009, EAA joined with Sporty's Pilot Shop of Batavia, Ohio , to provide the Next Step to the Young Eagles Flight experience. Sporty's has made their on line Complete Flight Training Course available to any interested Young Eagle following their flight. Sporty's also provides pilot logbooks to allow Young Eagles to record their flight and any subsequent aviation experiences. The Gathering of Eagles
952-486: The plans for the first Schoolflight homebuilt aircraft project. Blacker contacted Poberezny and he supplied a copy of the Baby Ace plans for the program at no charge. Poberezny thought that Blacker's program could provide him with a start to fulfilling one of his lifetime dreams - to have an "airplane building factory" for homebuilt aircraft. It was from these discussions that both men agreed to co-found Project Schoolflight together. The Project Schoolflight program
986-458: The project and gain wider involvement. Blacker soon became President of EAA Chapter 15 while continuing to serve as the adult sponsor and advisor to Junior Chapter #39. In 1959, Blacker and Poberezny both appeared on a local TV show on WMVS-TV in Milwaukee. Blacker explained how Project Schoolflight worked, while Poberezny explained EAA activities. Project Schoolflight quickly spread across
1020-536: The runway extension on January 15, 2016. In early 2017, the runway extension plan needed approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. However, by February 2018 the runway extension had been cancelled. A plan to build housing units across a road from the southwest end of the runway met with opposition from the AOPA in 2021. A proposal to transfer land for a second development immediately adjacent to
1054-549: The students to form Chapter #39, the first Junior EAA Chapter, including electing student officers. Chapter 39 students also volunteered at the EAA Fly-Ins from 1957 until 1960 where they helped run the competitive flying events. In 1957, the Spirit of Cascia was completed. The second airplane was an EAA Biplane , completed in 1960, five years after the start of the program. At the 1957 EAA Fly-in in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ,
Young Eagles - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-703: Was a youth outreach program of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) which was jointly co-founded in 1955 by EAA founder Paul Poberezny and Robert D. Blacker, the director of the Aviation Industrial Arts program at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, Illinois . Poberezny had written series of three articles entitled " Build this plane (Baby Ace) for $ 800, Including Engine " which ran in consecutive 1955 monthly issues of Mechanix Illustrated magazines and Blacker decided to use
1122-420: Was established. In March 2011, EAA reported the results of a study on the program that showed that program participants were 5.4 times more likely to become a pilot than those who had never participated and that 9% of those new pilots were female, an increase of 50% compared to the general population of pilots, which was 6% female. The study also indicated that the older a child is when taking their flight that it
1156-480: Was initially overseen by both men but it grew so quickly that it became administered by the EAA's Air Museum Foundation instead. The project dissolved around 1978, and would eventually help inspire the founding of the very successful EAA Young Eagles program, established in 1992. In 1952, prior to founding the EAA, Paul Poberezny purchased all of the inventory and the legal rights of the then defunct Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company , including all rights and plans to
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