Wednesday, October 2, 2024
The Pecan Plantation Fly-In and Car Show, held on Saturday, Sept. 28, provided a day of fun and excitement for the community. One of the main highlights was the Young Eagles program, which gave 75 children their first experience of flying in an airplane.
“Pilots have always enjoyed sharing the experience of flying with others, especially kids,” said Bruce McJunkin, coordinator of the Pecan Plantation Young Eagles program alongside his wife, Geneva. “It’s a thrill to see their faces light up during their first flight.”
The Young Eagles program, launched in 1992 by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), is designed to introduce youth aged 8-17 to aviation by offering free flights. Pilots from across the country volunteer their time and aircraft to take kids into the sky, hoping to inspire the next generation of aviators. Since its inception, more than 2.5 million children have participated in the program.
The EAA Chapter 983, based in Pecan Plantation, actively participates in this nationwide initiative by hosting recurring Young Eagles rallies. McJunkin explained that the chapter’s pilots not only fly the children but also donate their time and aircraft. “This program is all about encouraging young people to explore education and aviation,” McJunkin said. “We also offer some youth scholarships for advanced flight training.”
In addition to offering free flights, the chapter administers scholarships for local youth, including opportunities to learn flying skills in sailplanes through a glider club near Cresson. The chapter also plans to start hosting an affordable FAA ground school at Pecan Plantation for youth and adults aspiring to become licensed pilots.
Several prominent aviators have led The Young Eagles program over the years, including actor Cliff Robertson, General Chuck Yeager - the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound - and Harrison Ford. Pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles — US Air emergency landing in the Hudson River. Famous aerobatic pilot Swan Tucker and Jimmy Graham, a Green Bay Packer player, have also chaired the program.
As McJunkin summarized, “This program is all about inspiring the future of aviation—one flight at a time.”
