RE ACHING OUT
Fly Like An Eagle
Flight rallies offer free airplane rides to
aspiring young pilots ages 8-17
FLYING HIGH Future aspiring pilots in the Wayne
area flocked to the Lincoln Park Airport to enjoy
free flights at this Young Eagles Flight Rally held
in June.
on Provost, a
member of the
Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA),
declares, “Nothing
captures the spirit
better than being able to say, ‘I can
fly!’” According to Provost, who is a
Kinnelon resident and the organization’s newsletter editor and web
master, the EAA is a worldwide nonprofit group dedicated to promoting
recreational aviation. The Lincoln
Park-based Chapter 501, to which he
belongs, is celebrating its 40th
anniversary this year. “It’s all about
flying, and for some, building planes
from scratch in the basement or
garage,” says Provost.
In 1992, the EAA started the
Young Eagles Program to spark
interest in aviation with children
ages 8-17. Since its inception, 1.9
million children received free airplane rides at flight rallies held globally. Federally licensed, experienced
pilot volunteers from Chapter 501
conducted approximately 500
such flights locally, donating their
personal time and fuel.
Jon Seibert of Lincoln Park, the
chapter’s vice president and Young
Eagles Program coordinator,
explains, “The pilot population is
aging, so we are trying to build
aviation interest in youth to bring in
the pilots of tomorrow. Most pilots
have had a curiosity for flying their
whole lives.” The EAA also hopes
this program will foster an increased
interest in science, technology, engineering and math for more children
at a young age.
Chapter president Steve Vail of
Kinnelon recalls, “I was inspired by
dreams of flying since childhood.
20 WAYNE MAGAZINE BACK TO SCHOOL 2015
One reason we all love to share the
flying experience with children is our
memory of that fascination and how
much it still means to us.”
Chapter 501 members include
active and retired businessmen,
pilots, flight attendants and college
professors. As part of the Young
Eagles Program