Receives Prestigious 2014 Milton Caniff 'Spirit of Flight' Award

The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) has honored EAA’s Young Eagles program with the 2014 Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award, which is presented to groups or organizations that are “exemplary in improving and advancing aviation.”

“The committee responsible for the 2014 selection process clearly believes that the positive impact the EAA Young Eagles program has had on fostering the growth of American general aviation is worthy of this recognition,” said Enshrinement Director Ron Kaplan, in his letter to EAA.
 
The “Spirit of Flight” Award is given in honor of the late Milton Caniff, a famous American cartoonist known for his comic strips “Terry and the Pirates” and “Steve Canyon,” a story about a pilot in the Korean War Air Force. Caniff was also one of the founders of the National Cartoonists Society.  
 
Since 1992, the Young Eagles program has provided more than 1.8 million young people from ages eight to 17 all over the world the opportunity to fly for free. More than 40,000 EAA members have volunteered over the years to make this experience possible.

“Without the thousands of volunteers this program would not have the history of success it has today,” said Brian O’Lena, EAA’s manager of Young Eagles and Youth Pathways. “They are creating a new generation of aviators, and inspiring others every day through their hard work, devotion and passion for aviation.”

The program has helped and continues to help foster aviation awareness for the younger generation. These flights can give the Young Eagles an experience of a lifetime, or even lead them in the direction of pursuing aviation as a career.
 
Previous winners of the Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award since it was first awarded in 1981 include the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), Tuskegee Airmen, WAI (Women in Aviation), NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) and many others.
 
This prestigious award will be presented at the Young Eagles Dinner held at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 on Wednesday, July 30.

FMI: http://nationalaviation.org/