First Meeting Of The Group Was Held In January, Monthly Meetings Planned

Experimental Aviation Association Chapter 534 based at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Florida has decided to sponsor an Explorer Scout Post for young people in the Lake County Area.

The idea for Explorer Post 534 began in November 2015 during a meeting with Boy Scouts of America Lake County District officials. This is to be an aviation oriented Explorer Post run by EAA chapter 534 . The Post’s young people must be 16 years of age. Currently there are 5 members, four males and one female. The thing they have in common is that they each have an active interest in aviation, and at this point all have indicated their goal is to become a pilot. The EAA chapter also encourages the parents to take an interest in the program and help their offspring pursue their dream of flying.

Chapter 534 volunteers will fulfill the role of mentors for the group and provide opportunities for them to become well acquainted with aviation in general, take part in the Young Eagles Program, where they get a chance to actually fly in general aviation aircraft, and take aviation field trips to learn about various aspects of the world of flying. Through the Young Eagles program they will be able to start studying for their ground school exam and accrue some free flight training time.

Meetings of Explorer Post 534 began in January  2016 and continue to meet on a monthly basis. They have already had a tour of the Leesburg International Airport Tower and on Saturday February 6, 2016 some of them had their first flight in a single engine plane and actually got to fly it under the watchful eye of their EAA pilot. They and their parents are invited to take part in most chapter activities.

The lead Chapter 534 instructor for the Explorer Post is Steven Barber from Howey-In–the-Hills, FL,  who is an United States Air Force Academy graduate and has had a long  career as a pilot, both in the military and  with American Airlines. Steve also serves as an Aviation Merit Badge instructor for an annual Boy Scout learning experience held at the chapter hangar. Many other chapter members will also be helping out with this program.

(Images provided with EAA Chapter 534 news release)

FMI: www.534.eaachapter.org