Young fans of flight get a chance to fly
Certified pilots based at Chicago Executive Airport -- formerly known as Palwaukee -- aim to hook more youngsters on the adventure of flight.
In fact, four times a year Experimental Aircraft Association member pilots sponsor a Young Eagles rally, which gives children ages 7-17 their first airplane ride, free of charge and hopefully sparks an interest that lasts a lifetime.
This year's first Young Eagles rally takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Atlantic Aviation executive terminal, located on the west side of Chicago Executive Airport, 1011 S. Wolf Road, Wheeling.
Walk-up registrations will be accepted, though some children already have pre-registered for the event. Parents or guardians must accompany their children to give written permission for each child to fly.
Children accompany FAA-certified pilots, who fly in their own aircraft, and range from two-seat trainers, to larger twin-engine aircraft. Their introductory flight lasts 15 to 20 minutes, during which children see how the aircraft is flown and watch as the pilot works with air traffic control to ensure a safe flight.
A similar program operated out of the Schaumburg Regional Airport will start up again in April and continue the first Sunday of every month.
"We love doing it," says Richard Steinbrecher of Highland Park, program chairman. "We're trying to hook them on flying and on science in general."
Steinbrecher brought the Young Eagles program to Wheeling in 2003 from Meigs Field in Chicago, after it closed. Since then, local pilots have given more than 700 children their first taste of flight.
On Saturday, the program starts inside the Atlantic Aviation terminal, which will convert into a ground school for the day. There, children will rotate through stations that cover such topics as reading aviation charts, aerodynamics, radio communications, weather and the theory of flight.
At the end of their visit, children are presented with a commemorative certificate signed by their pilot and national program chairman, actor Harrison Ford.
What's more, each child's name is entered in the "world's largest logbook" at the Experimental Aircraft Association museum headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis.
EAA members started the Young Eagles program in 1992, with the goal of flying a million youngsters by 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903.
With the help of local chapters and such associate organizations as the pilots at Chicago Executive Airport, they more than surpassed that goal. As of the 2003, more than 1,025,000 had been flown worldwide.
EAA members now have extended the program, with a new goal of flying 1,000 children each month.
If you go
What: Young Eagles rally for children ages 7-17
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Atlantic Aviation's executive terminal, on the west side of Chicago Executive Airport, at 1011 S. Wolf Road, Wheeling
Cost: Free
For more information: (847) 883-8388 to register or visit ceaa.us/youngeagles.html