Posted on 12/07/2008 12:31:50 PM PST by JRios1968
Cesar Ceja's mother won't let him drive, but she'll let him fly. In fact, his mother says airplanes are one of the best things to happen to her almost 16-year-old.
Three months ago, Ceja started coming to Young Eagles rallies, recommended by a friend of a friend. The group offers free flights for children 8 to 17 at Hayward Executive Airport.
Experienced pilots, who hang around the small airport's hangars like chatty neighbors on a garage sale weekend, take up one or two passengers at a time. After one ride, Ceja was hooked.
"I always wanted to be a pilot," he said Saturday, before going up in a Cessna 172. "It's the best feeling."
And it's a common feeling.
"Once you spend a little time in the third dimension, as I call it, it's hard to stay on the ground," said Ken Barnes, who has been flying out of Hayward since 1980.
Young Eagles is an effort to bring people into aviation, and to expand the concept of what goes into getting a plane into the air. Planes sit on the tarmac open for inspection, and pilots — including air racer Marilyn Dash, who is based here — walk new recruits through every step of flying.
"The pilot population is gradually shrinking," Barnes said. "Kids have so many other options for entertainment now. Kids used to go to the airport and wash planes, but now, because of the security, they can't even get in."
(Excerpt) Read more at insidebayarea.com ...
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Better make sure Junior’s carbon offsets are fully paid up there, Mom.
My two oldest sons went on a Young Eagles flight last year. It’s a really neat experience for kids.
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I wish I was young again. Great story.
I know. I missed out too.
They had zeppelins when you were a kid, no?
Young Eagles is a fantastic means to showing kids that there is FAR more to life than what their friends think. Our company has an employee aero club and pays for the Eagle flights. We also sponsor flights at airshows. Nothing lights up a young mind like flying.
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