If you go ...
• What: Young Eagles Rally
• When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 23
• Where: Monroe Municipal Airport
• Who: Ages 8-17
• Registration will be available, parental consent required; priority will be given to first-time flyers.
MONROE - Celebrating its 25th year of existence with no end in sight, the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program will once more allow young people from the area to take flight from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at Monroe Municipal Airport.
Young Eagles Coordinator Joe Snow is a member of Brodhead EAA Chapter 431, joining as part of his mission to improve the lives of young people through his membership in the Monroe Morning Optimists.
A pilot himself, Snow said the goal has been to replenish the amount of people flying in the sky by exposing young people ages 8-17 to the feeling of soaring through the air in a small, four-seat plane.
"Each flight you can gain a little more of a different perspective," Snow said. "You fly again, you might catch something different. Or you might look at it differently than when you're 15 or 16."
EAA began the program in 1992. Headquartered in Oshkosh, the organization plans a number of events focused on aviation. When the program started, the group wanted to fly 1 million Young Eagles by the 100th anniversary of the first flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright. The date to reach that number was Dec. 17, 2003, a century after 1903 when the brothers first flew in North Carolina.
That goal was achieved Nov. 13, 2003.
In 2016, the 2 millionth Young Eagle was flown by Harrison Ford in Oshkosh during the annual AirVenture air show. As of Monday, nearly 2.1 million Young Eagles have flown.
Snow noted how important it is for adolescents to take part in the event simply because they may have a passing curiosity with flying, but being a part of the plane introduces a new element and a new experience. He noted that those who go on to be pilots reference a flight they took as a young person as part of the reason they pursued their licenses, and that participants are 5.5 times more likely to become pilots than those who do not engage in a Young Eagles flight.
"It's scary at first, people are a little bit apprehensive," Snow said. "You're actually seeing the movements of the control, the gauges, a beautiful panoramic view out in front of you ... and you're a lot lower to the ground, so you can see things."
A game can even be made of the view from the plane, Snow said, because buildings and other landmarks appear different than they would from the ground.
Registration will be hosted at Monroe Municipal Airport on Sept. 23 for all Young Eagles. Six planes and pilots will be awaiting their passengers and everyone will have a chance to fly, Snow said. Participants receive a certificate for their flight and a small log book to understand how pilots operate.
Those interested in pursuing ground training have their session covered through Sporty's Pilot Shop of Batavia, Ohio, one of many corporate sponsors who make the program possible, Snow said. A grant from EAA is also available to help those young people pay for pilot lessons.
"There are a lot of young people out there who start flying before they start driving," Snow said. "It teaches young people a lot of responsibility."
Members of the Monroe Police Department, Monroe Fire Department, Green County Sheriff's Department and Green County EMS will be in attendance as well to help educate the public about the services each provides to the public.
Young Eagles Coordinator Joe Snow is a member of Brodhead EAA Chapter 431, joining as part of his mission to improve the lives of young people through his membership in the Monroe Morning Optimists.
A pilot himself, Snow said the goal has been to replenish the amount of people flying in the sky by exposing young people ages 8-17 to the feeling of soaring through the air in a small, four-seat plane.
"Each flight you can gain a little more of a different perspective," Snow said. "You fly again, you might catch something different. Or you might look at it differently than when you're 15 or 16."
EAA began the program in 1992. Headquartered in Oshkosh, the organization plans a number of events focused on aviation. When the program started, the group wanted to fly 1 million Young Eagles by the 100th anniversary of the first flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright. The date to reach that number was Dec. 17, 2003, a century after 1903 when the brothers first flew in North Carolina.
That goal was achieved Nov. 13, 2003.
In 2016, the 2 millionth Young Eagle was flown by Harrison Ford in Oshkosh during the annual AirVenture air show. As of Monday, nearly 2.1 million Young Eagles have flown.
Snow noted how important it is for adolescents to take part in the event simply because they may have a passing curiosity with flying, but being a part of the plane introduces a new element and a new experience. He noted that those who go on to be pilots reference a flight they took as a young person as part of the reason they pursued their licenses, and that participants are 5.5 times more likely to become pilots than those who do not engage in a Young Eagles flight.
"It's scary at first, people are a little bit apprehensive," Snow said. "You're actually seeing the movements of the control, the gauges, a beautiful panoramic view out in front of you ... and you're a lot lower to the ground, so you can see things."
A game can even be made of the view from the plane, Snow said, because buildings and other landmarks appear different than they would from the ground.
Registration will be hosted at Monroe Municipal Airport on Sept. 23 for all Young Eagles. Six planes and pilots will be awaiting their passengers and everyone will have a chance to fly, Snow said. Participants receive a certificate for their flight and a small log book to understand how pilots operate.
Those interested in pursuing ground training have their session covered through Sporty's Pilot Shop of Batavia, Ohio, one of many corporate sponsors who make the program possible, Snow said. A grant from EAA is also available to help those young people pay for pilot lessons.
"There are a lot of young people out there who start flying before they start driving," Snow said. "It teaches young people a lot of responsibility."
Members of the Monroe Police Department, Monroe Fire Department, Green County Sheriff's Department and Green County EMS will be in attendance as well to help educate the public about the services each provides to the public.