Young Eagles host rallies

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Area young people age 8-17 will have two chances to take to the skies this month: from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport’s corporate hangar 3 or from 1-4 p.m. June 20 at Rochelle Municipal Airport, in conjunction with the military vehicle preservation event.

The rallies are part of the local EAA241 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, Young Eagle chapter 241 coordinator, 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.”

In addition, pilots at the event will 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.

Young Eagles will receive a certificate and a logbook in which they can record their flight experiences. Parents must complete a registration form for each child, but parents will not be able to accompany children on the flight.

Any pilots or aviation enthusiasts are welcome to come out. The Midwest Flight Academy in DeKalb has a special rental price available to qualified pilots who fly Young Eagles. The local EAA chapter meets on the second Monday evening of each month. For more information, visit www.EAA241.org.