Young Eagles' Experiences Included Helicopter Flights

It was a busy day at the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 hangar as they flew 13 Young Eagles and their Aviation Youth members started to put together the Mini Max airplane they have been working on for a couple of years.

Saturday March 23, 2019 dawned a bit on the cool side but warmed up to mid-seventies with blue skies and little wind making it a perfect day to fly Young Eagles for their first flights in general aviation aircraft. Chapter 534 made it an interesting day for the kids as they got a chance to take two flights. The first one was in a helicopter and the next one was in a single engine fixed wing aircraft.

Hans Gunter Vosseler brought his turbine powered Eurocopter to the event and gave all the Young Eagles and a couple of Old Buzzards a low altitude tour of some of the lakes in Lake County. They also got a bird’s eye view of the annual Antique Boat Show going on at Wooton Park in Tavares. The helicopter was able to accommodate five passengers at a time for a 20-minute flight and as soon as it landed each child was then assigned to an EAA chapter 534 pilot and airplane.

Chapter 534 provided eight fixed wing single engine aircraft and one helicopter. The nine Pilots provided their personal aircraft and fuel at no charge to the children. The chapter also had 10 members doing the paperwork, escorting people to the ramp and explaining the aircraft building projects going on in the hangar.

Following the Young Eagle flights, members of the Chapter 534 Aviation Youth Program worked on constructing aileron ribs for building a replica of the 1929 Pietenpol Air Camper and putting together the restored Mini Max light sport aircraft they have been working on for some time.  Both planes are constructed of wood and fabric so the Aviation Youth members have learned a lot about wood working and covering techniques.

The Mini Max is just about finished. On this day one wing, with its flaperon, was attached to the fuselage. The paint had not quite dried enough on the second wing to get the plane back to flying condition. It should be ready in another week or so.

Young Eagle Events are available to young people through local EAA chapters throughout the world under guidance from the Experimental Aircraft Association National based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. To date EAA has flown well over two million kids and has been doing this for over 25 years.

There is never any charge for this, and it is run by volunteers in the local chapters. The reason for doing this is to acquaint young people about the wonders of flight with the hope that this might inspire some of them to become private pilots and/ or seek out aviation careers later in their lives.

Upon completion of their flights each Young Eagle is given a commemorative certificate of their flight and a log book signed by their EAA pilot. If they are interested enough to continue their flying experience, they are given a free on-line ground school course to help them pass the Federal Aviation Administration written exam necessary to proceed to getting their private pilot’s license.  EAA National and Chapter 534 will each give them one hour of dual flight training free at any flight school of their choice.

(Images provided with EAA Chapter 534 news release by Ted Luebbers. EAA Chapter 534 Yong Eagles board the helicopter for their first flight of the day,  Paul Adrien, gets ready to fly Young Eagle Keaton Magamoll in his home built Long-EZ)

FMI: www.534eaachapter.org