INTERNATIONAL YOUNG EAGLES DAY
Every year on the second Saturday in June, International Young Eagles Day encourages young members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to participate in its Young Eagles Program. It’s also a day for EAA members to share their passion for aviation with others.
Many children are infatuated with flying. Kids often like to pretend they can fly. Some of these kids take their desire to fly and actually make it happen. They might first do this by making a paper airplane. Other kids enjoy making their remote-controlled aircraft fly. Some ids also look forward to flying in an airplane for the first time. However, one of the greatest flying adventures for a child is to take a ride in a small plane with a licensed pilot.
Kids who love this experience may want to take their dream a step further by taking flying lessons. In the United States, kids can learn to fly a plane as young as 14 years old. After successfully completing flight school, it’s possible for a 16-year old to fly a plane on their own. The EAA is just one organization around the globe that encourages young people to learn to fly.
HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalYoungEaglesDay
On this day, EAA chapters around the world help young people between the ages of 8 and 17 discover a love of aviation. To do this, EAA members offer kids free rides on airplanes. The kids that take this free ride are called Young Eagles. To date, the EAA has provided over 2 million rides to Young Eagles. The EAA also encourages young people to check out the planes on display and ask flight instructors questions.
Other ways to participate include:
- Check out flight schools or flight training programs in your area.
- Take your child to an aviation museum or an airshow.
- Read about Mason Andrews, the 18-year old who is the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.
- Watch an aviation-based movie, such as Top Gun, The Aviator, One Six Right, or Sully.
Share this day on social media by posting a story or photo of your first plane ride with #InternationalYoungEaglesDay.
INTERNATIONAL YOUNG EAGLES DAY HISTORY
The EAA was founded in 1953 by veteran aviator, Paul Poberezny, and other aviation enthusiasts. The international organization is based in Oshkosh, WI. The EAA currently has over 1,000 chapters around the world and over 200,000 members. They began their Young Eagles program in 1992. Past chairmen for the Young Eagles program have included Chuck Yeager, Harrison Ford, and Jimmy Graham. The first International Young Eagles Day was held on June 11, 1994.
DATES:
11 June 2022
10 June 2023
8 June 2024
14 June 2025
13 June 2026
12 June 2027
10 June 2028
9 June 2029
8 June 2030