Tucker Says The Role Will Be A 'Second Full-Time Job'

At Thursday's Gathering of Eagles, Sean D. Tucker was named the new Young Eagles honorary chairman, replacing Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles, the airline pilots known for their expert handling of their emergency landing in the Hudson River - the so-called Miracle on the Hudson. Tucker will be the spokesman and help guide the agenda for the program that hopes to get youth hooked on flight by offering free flights with EAA volunteer pilots.

"It's my second full-time job," says Tucker, who has performed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for decades. "That's how committed I am to this legacy."

Tucker says EAA's mentorship helped him gain success as an air show performer. "That's why I made this commitment to spread the word about aviation and make this program more successful."

He told EAA that all the past Young Eagles chairmen - Cliff Robertson, Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, Harrison Ford, and Sullenberger and Skiles - have left the program in great shape. "But I will strive to do an even better job. Everything good that has happened in my life is because of EAA members' involvement."

"I will be the voice, but it's the men and women who volunteer their time that really make this program so successful," he says. "I want to honor them; they are the unsung heroes."

He says he plans to lead by example. "I will get the word out to chapters and make personal visits with my airplane so I can fly with these kids."

FMI: www.youngeagles.org