EAA Chapter 430Teamwork Gets 55 Young Eagles into the Air
Anytime you can get 55 kids into the air, good things are going to happen. Our first rally of the year proved that to be true. Kids are thrilled. Parents are happy. Pilots and ground volunteers are pleased and relieved.
A lot of things have to come together for a successful event and EAA Chapter 430 excels, neatly delivering a community service that has such positive impact on young lives.
Local weather always plays a big role at Young Eagles events. Adapting to current conditions is important, because we don’t always get the ideal sunny Saturday we hopefully anticipate.
June 6 provided some clouds, a bit of sunshine, a little breeze and even a few sprinkles. It all added up to a remarkably beautiful flying day. What a treat.
Our pilot and airplane turnout was terrific. This is due in no small part to the persuasive charm of our Young Eagles Director, Bud Davies. In addition to several pilots who regularly volunteer, we had two pilots participating for their first time ever. It’s definitely a worthwhile way to spend a Saturday. The next opportunity will be in July, so please let Bud know you’d like to pitch in to share your time and your airplane.
As you might expect, kids bring their own level of enthusiasm for a flight. To many, it’s just an activity, something to do. Other’s seem to think it’s pretty cool and unusual, but perhaps not much beyond that. And then, there are those that click. We keep a sharp eye out, hoping to pick out the “right-seaters”, the ones who’ll get the most out of having a few moments at the controls, flying the airplane. We fortunately were able to identify several keen prospects and did our best to get them in the co-pilot’s seat for their flights.
June’s rally went smoothly, thanks to the coordination of our experienced volunteers. We try to do three events each year, and for as long EAA 430 has been at it, it’s easy to see that practice pays off for the enjoyment and benefit of all.
So the next time you see Tracy Halsted, Joan Miller, Bud Davies, Linda Runion, Kevin or Charlene Tracy, Alejandra Stamper, John Meyers, Norm Nelson, Harry Cook, or any of the EAA 430 Young Eagles Team, please take a moment to thank them for the hard work they put in to make these rallies a success.
Written by EAA 430 Flyer staff.
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