Neil Gorman stood at the wing of a chapter aircraft on a bright, cloud-dotted Saturday, August 22nd — and a few minutes later, he was in the air over Gilbert Field for the first time.
Neil is the latest addition to our Young Eagles logbook, EAA’s program that gives kids ages 8 to 17 a free introductory flight in a real general aviation aircraft. One of our chapter pilots flew the flight, walking Neil through the cockpit, the instruments, and what to expect before they ever left the ramp.
Wheels Up
From the back seat, headset on, Neil watched the runway fall away and Gilbert Field spread out below — hangars, the ramp, and a vintage AT-6-style trainer parked nearby, a reminder of just how far general aviation has come since aircraft like it first took cadets into the sky. For a lot of our Young Eagles, this flight is the first time an airplane feels like something they could fly themselves someday, not just something they watch from the ground.
That’s the whole point of the program: put a kid in the left seat’s view, not just the terminal window, and see what sticks.
Join Us
Every Young Eagles flight is free, thanks to our volunteer pilots and EAA’s national Young Eagles program. If your child is between 8 and 17 and has never flown in a small plane, reach out to Chapter 229 — we’d love to add their name to the logbook next.
