Young Eagles flight rally scheduled for Saturday

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Area young people age 8-17 will have a chance to take to the skies on Saturday, as Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 241 hosts a “Young Eagles Flight Rally” at DeKalb Taylor Municipal 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 1.4 million young people who reside in more than 90 countries.

“Free airplane rides are just part of the Flight Rally,” said Rose Ellen May, spokeswoman for the event, in a recent news release. “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 primary 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, Wis. The logbook also is accessible at www.youngeagles.org.

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 DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport corporate hanger 3 (watch for signs), starting at 9 a.m. to register for their flight. Flights will begin at 9:15 a.m., with registration closing at 10:45 a.m.

For more information about EAA and the EAA Young Eagles program, visit www.eaa241.org. The Young Eagles Web site is www.youngeagles.org.