Girl Scouts to learn about flight at Wheeling airport

The Chicago Area 99s, the local chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots, is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana for an Aviation Day event from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Atlantic Aviation's building at Chicago Executive Airport, 1011 S. Wolf Road in Wheeling.

The day was created to stir the interest of young women in learning to fly as well as in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Girls will be able to preflight an aircraft with a pilot, as well as sit inside the cockpit and learn how the flight controls operate. They will learn about navigation, what allows an airplane to fly and the history of women in aviation the past 100 years. Professional pilots will answer career questions.

The event costs $12 for Scouts and $8 for adults, and included a light snack. There is a 100 Scout maximum. Registration is at gcnwiprograms.org.