Poberezny had written series of three articles entitled "Build this plane (Baby Ace) for $800, Including Engine" which ran in consecutive 1955 monthly issues of Mechanix Illustrated magazines and Blacker decided to use the plans for the first Schoolflight homebuilt aircraft project.
[9] Poberezny thought that Blacker's program could provide him with a start to fulfilling one of his lifetime dreams - to have an "airplane building factory" for homebuilt aircraft.
[14][15][16] Robert D. Blacker, the aeronautical instructor for St. Rita of Cascia High School and EAA Chapter 15 President, read Poberenzy's story in MI and thought that building a Baby Ace would be an ideal class project.
[27] At the 1958 Fly-in, Blacker was awarded the Mechanix Illustrated Trophy for "Outstanding Achievements in Home-Built Aircraft" for his work in starting Project Schoolflight.
[31][32] In 1957, Blacker made available his high school shop for Chicago EAA Chapter #15 to hold their monthly meetings there to help expand awareness of the project and gain wider involvement.
[42] In the summer of 1961, Bob Blacker left St. Rita's High School to work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Washington, DC.
[45] In the 2001 Annual Report to EAA Members, Tom Poberezny, Paul's son and then CEO of EAA, remarked: "As we focus on Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft, we will continue to address our core programs built around homebuilder aircraft education ... the important part of the future is educational outreach programs.
The Young Eagles program would serve to transition the youths of EAA from homebuilding planes to introducing them to flying and encouraging them to become pilots.