YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2015
Local EAA Chapter to provide free flights to more than 100 local youth
YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2015
Local EAA Chapter to provide free flights to more than 100 local youth
Volunteer pilots of the Knoxville chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association are set to provide more than 100 local youth an opportunity to experience flight this weekend at Downtown Island Airport.
“We are proud to again offer the Young Eagles flight experience to local youth,” said Young Eagles Coordinator Gordon Meyer. “It’s an honor to see children experience the thrill of flying for the first time and watch their imaginations soar.”
Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program has dedicated nearly 25 years to giving youth ages 8–17 their first free ride in an airplane and is the only program of its kind, with the sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation.
Today, the Young Eagles program has flown nearly 2 million kids nationwide with the help of EAA’s network of volunteer pilots and ground volunteers.
After delving into decades worth of logbooks and historical notes, the Chapter’s newsletter writer and historian, Jerry Depew, said he believes this is the 18th Year Chapter 17 has participated in the Young Eagles program but could not guess how many children have experienced flight through the program.
“It’s been amazing to see the impact this program has had on children’s lives,” said Chapter President George Douglas. “We hope an experience like this will inspire many of them to explore becoming pilots themselves or even to start careers in aviation.”
Founded more than 60 years ago, Chapter 17 has been serving the homebuilding, kit building and recreational aviation interests of the East Tennessee community.
Pre-registration is closed to new participants. Anyone who wants to participate in the future can follow our Facebook page or sign up for our newsletter on our webpage for announcements.
WHO: Area children ages 8-17
WHAT: Free flights by local volunteer pilots
WHERE: Downtown Island Airport
WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 9am until all flights are completed (Weather Permitting)
WHY: To offer children the experience and thrill of flying
HOW: Local volunteer pilots are offering their planes, time and fuel for this event
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Editor’s Notes
Further details can be found at:
EAA Chapter 17 Young Eagles Website
https://eaa17.org/young-eagles/
EAA Chapter 17 About Us
National EAA Young Eagles Website
VIDEO: Sean D. Tucker, EAA Young Eagles Chairman
Supporting information can be found at:
Rebecca Simmons: Downtown Island Airport to host open house
VIDEO: Experimental aircraft take to the sky
High-resolution photos with cutline information of this event will be available for press usage at:
http://www.rberlinphoto.com/Young-Eagles-May-2016/
For more information, to coordinate interviews and to coordinate camera placement in/on aircraft, contact:
Robert Berlin, EAA Chapter 17 webmaster and media relations coordinator
(865) 300-7748
FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/EAA17Knoxville/)
TWITTER (https://twitter.com/EAA17Knoxville)