EAA Chapter 322 Young Eagles 2024

The Experimental Aviation association (EAA) has a long history of engendering the passion for flying amongst its members as well as the youth of the world. EAA is a worldwide organisation with its most well-known event being the annual gathering in Oshkosh for a week of aviation as the largest aviation event in the world at the end of July each year.

The South African Chapter 322 has followed this lead and through the efforts of Neil Bowden (Chapter 322 chairman) and Tyla Puzey with a group of Young Aviators actively spreading the excellent word of aviation in South Africa. To this end around 80 young people who had not flown before and have an interest in aviation were invited to attend a Young Eagles Day sponsored and hosted by ExecuJet at the company’s magnificent Lanseria premises.

A total of 20 aircraft (19 were used to fly the children) from the EAA arrived at the ExecuJet facilities as the company went all out to ensure that the day was a success. Special mention must be made of Nigel Townsend (King Air 260) and Clyde Straughan (Cessna Citation Mustang) for their generous contribution of their beautiful aircraft to fly the children.

The EAA Young Eagles Programme was developed in 1992 to welcome young people into the world of aviation. Aviation is exciting and vital to our nation’s future and the best way to convey that message is to actually experience flight in a firsthand setting.

Each child received a short ground lesson by the pilot on how the aircraft works and then takes off for a short flight where they will get an opportunity to feel the controls. On completion each child will receive a certificate to show that he or she has qualified as a Young Eagle. In addition to the flight, the scholars had the opportunity to enjoy an ExecuJet hangar walk looking at aircraft that are rarely seen.

Comments by Karl Jensen

Scholars register in advance with their parents / guardians completing an indemnity in order that they may participate. These documents are checked on registration and each child is issued with a ‘flight ticket’ in the form of a sticker.

This is redeemed for a flight in order that records are kept reflecting the child registered, the pilots and the aircraft.