Posted on 10/21/2007 4:59:34 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Pilot Tony Ginn enjoys sharing his love of flying with others, especially the youngsters he takes aloft as part of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program. Volunteer pilots in the worldwide program offer free flights to young people, primarily ages 8 to 17, in rallies staged at area airports.
Ginn joined the program when it began in 1992 with the goal of flying 1 million youths by the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' historic first flight in 2003.
In the years since, he has introduced more than 100 area youths to flying.
"I get to see the excitement of them when they go fly," he said. "They're all amazed in one way or another."
Ginn has been a fixture at Young Eagle rallies where he not only volunteers his piloting skills, but also has been known to provide an extra airplane to a fellow pilot in order to ensure all those interested have a chance to fly.
"I don't mind sharing, especially for a good cause," he said.
A strong advocate for the program, "he really relates with kids," local Young Eagles coordinator Tanya Duke said.
About 100 youth have taken advantage of the local program - which includes members of EAA Chapters 49 and 1000 - this year alone, Duke said.
Pilots volunteer their time, aircraft and fuel in order to introduce the next generation to flight.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
You could've knocked me over with a feather when I spotted one go by the 20th floor windows of The University Club Tower in Tulsa.
He looked majestic at about eight feet across!
Very cool!
My kids have flown with Young Eagles twice this year. What a great program! I’m jealous since I’ve never been up in a small plane. The flights are usually about 30 minutes. One of my brothers students has a cool Young Eagles story. He asked the pilot if he could call in to the tower before takeoff. Reluctantly, she let him. He called in perfectly using all the correct terminology. The pilot asked him where he learned all that. He said it was from his flight simulator computer game. She let him take the controls on the runway and he lifted off, (which in a Cessna is apparently foolproof) flew the entire flight and landed the aircraft. The pilot never touched the yoke.
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