MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Experimental Aviation Association held its Free Flight for Youth event for the Young Eagles program. The program and event started in 1992 and sense has flown 2.3 million kids around the nation.
The Free Flights for the Youth are available from May to September once a month. This program was started to expose and get kids interested in aviation as well as, get them comfortable with planes either riding or flying. Organizers shared that seeing the children’s reactions to being in the air or, flying the plane is heartwarming.
“I usually get a dry mouth when I’m flying kids cause I’m talking so much cause I’m trying to explain everything to them, I’m getting into it – if I don’t get into it how are they gonna get into it so I try to make it as exciting as I can for them”, Mathias Munger, E.A.A Chapter 85 Vice President.
The E.A.A chapter 850 is thankful for all those who helped put these events on. Most of the Planes were donated by the Marquette Flying Club, however a few were personal planes of the pilots.
The next Free Flight for youth is July 13th at Hanley Field in Wetmore, MI. For more information or to find an E.A.A chapter near you go to E.A.A chapter 850 homepage.