VIENNA Flight rally promotes aviation to youths through plane rides

The sponsoring group aims to give 1 million youths an airplane ride by Dec. 17.
By JAYME RAMSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
VIENNA -- Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 117 will host a flight rally Saturday for people 8 through 17 at Price Field.
The EAA Aviation Foundation's Young Eagles Program was created to get more young people interested in aviation.
The EAA's volunteer pilots set a goal to provide 1 million youths with an airplane ride by the 100th anniversary of powered flight and the 50th anniversary of the EAA -- Dec. 17.
So far, the organization has provided more than 900,000 flights, according to Bill Bancroft, president of Chapter 117 and spokesman for the local event.
The flights will be in the 10- to 15-minute range, Bancroft said. "We just want to give the kids a view of what it is like up there."
According to Bancroft, the free airplane rides are only part of the event.
"We hope to build one-on-one relationships between pilots and young people, giving a new generation a chance to learn more about the possibilities that exist in the world of aviation," he said.
Educational experience
The pilots will give the youths an overview of how the planes work.
"We tell them what to expect and how we check the planes over before every flight to make sure everything is in working condition," Bancroft said.
After the flights, each youth will receive an official Young Eagle certificate signed by Chuck Yeager, a retired Air Force colonel, famous test pilot and a program administrator.
Each Young Eagle's name is entered into "The World's Largest Logbook," which is on permanent display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wis. It can also be viewed on the Internet at www.youngeagles.org.
The flight rally also includes a picnic. Bottled water and soda will be sold to raise money for EAA Ernie Hall Chapter 117, a nonprofit organization.
Price Field is on Smith-Stewart Road, about a mile west of state Route 193 (Belmont Avenue). Parking signs are posted.
Registration starts at 4 p.m., flights begin at 5 and registration closes at 6.
To register early, call Bill Bancroft at (330) 534-6141 or visit www.netdotcom.com/dgrayent/eaa117.htm.
Additional information about EAA, its foundation and the Young Eagles is available at www.eaa.org.