Getting 'Em Hooked On Aviation Early

Volunteer EAA Young Eagles pilots gave 5,601 children airplane rides during the month of April, keeping the program squarely on target to provide the thrill of flight to a million kids ages 8-17 by December 17, 2003. April's final count brought the year-to-date total to 18,640, or 19 percent ahead of last year's record pace as we enter the prime flying season of spring, summer and fall. The total number of Young Eagles in the World's Largest Logbook at the end of April was 894,850, representing the number of kids flown since the program's inception in July 1992.

The EAA Young Eagles program also attracted 124 new volunteer pilots during the month for a year-to-date total of 495, best start since 1998. More than 33,000 EAA member pilots have volunteered their time and resources to benefit the program, as have countless tens of thousands more EAA members on the ground.

On Course

"We're right on target for where we want to be right now," said Young Eagles Director Steve Buss. "This summer is the key for us. We'd like everyone to look at their efforts from last year and try to increase that by 15 to 20 percent, which would put us in very good shape to reach our December 17 goal."

Buss looks ahead to June 14 - International Young Eagles Day - where EAA Chapters and members hold flight rallies throughout the world to highlight the EAA Young Eagles program. "Last year more than 10,000 Young Eagles were flown on one day, which is an incredible number. We hope to top that in 2003," he said. "We are all pushing hard to reach our goal, but we must always remember the number one objective is to make sure we continue to operate safely, on the ground and in the air. Let's enjoy the stretch run and have fun creating a new generation of aviation enthusiasts!"

FMI: www.youngeagles.org