By Shannon McFarlin News Director
McKenzie, Tenn.–Saturday was a day to remember for 93 young people who were treated to free airplane rides by the EAA Chapter 734 at the Carroll County Airport in McKenzie. Of that number, 69 said it was the first time they had flown in an airplane.
Carl Blevins of the EAA Chapter 734 said 38 were girls and 55 were boys at Saturday’s event. Young Eagles can be age 8 through 17 and for this event, the eight and 11 years olds were the biggest groups.
The Young Eagle events are great motivational tools for young people wanting to become pilots. Blevins said, “We have a few members of our chapter that have started with this course and became pilots. One of the pilots at this event took this course as a Young Eagle. He Soloed at 14. He became a Private Pilot at 16. He is now 21 and has long list of certificates (licenses to most people but they are technically certificates).”
Blevins said, “We have flown several kids from other countries and several from distant states. Exchange students and kids with parents on temporary assignment in the country account for other countries. Kids from distant states are usually visiting relatives. Most kids come from within 75 miles but one or two travel farther fairly often. One young lady came from central Mississippi this summer. She liked it so much that she started flying lessons and soloed two weeks later. She is well on her way to becoming a pilot at 16 years old.”
Blevins said, “We normally have five or six Young Eagles events per year. The Young Eagle events (and the local Chapters) are 100 percent volunteers. People are donating there aircraft and time to introduce kids to aviation and give them a flight experience.”
The way the EEA organization remembered the experience Saturday:
93 Young Eagles flown
69 first flights
5 pilots/planes
10 crew
83 gallons of aviation fuel
192 sodas
10 pizzas
Totals at least a thousand smiles
The kids receive a logbook just like pilots use, with their Young Eagle flight recorded in it, he said. “The logbook has a long number on the back that gives them access to a Sporty’s (company that supplies stuff to pilots) learn to fly course. This course is free to the Young Eagle. It contains many videos about learning to fly. The course was designed to be a ground school to take the FAA Written Test to be a Private Pilot. EAA will reimburse Young Eagles for the cost of the test should they decided to take the test and pass it. Most will just want to watch the videos for now.”
The local chapter of EAA has flown over 2000 Young Eagles. EAA as a whole has logged 2,340,477 as of September 25,2023 in the World’s Largest Logbook. Our Young Eagles from Saturday have not been entered yet, but will be entered as soon as the paperwork is approved.
The local EEA chapter meets at the Carroll County Airport and has a hangar at the Paris-Henry County Airport.
Young Eagle events have been held at all the airports in this area.
You can view photos from Saturday event at https://www.facebook.com/EAAchapter734