Young Eagles

Project Schoolflight, co-founded by EAA founder Paul Poberezny in 1955, served as the inspirational predecessor program to the Young Eagles, ending in 1978.

[citation needed] In 1991, a survey of long-time EAA members was conducted to help determine the nascent organization's future priorities.

[5][6] More than 43,000 pilots have participated in the program, donating their time and paying the full cost of providing the flights for the children in their own or rented aircraft.

[2] In September 2023, EAA volunteer Fred Stadler became the first Young Eagles pilot to fly 10,000 children as part of the program.

Robertson was succeeded in 1994 by retired USAF General and test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.

[2] In September 2009, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, who became famous in the US Airways Flight 1549 Hudson River ditching on 15 January 2009, were named as the program's new co-chairmen.

[11] In May 2009, EAA joined with Sporty's Pilot Shop of Batavia, Ohio, to provide the Next Step to the Young Eagles Flight experience.

Sporty's also provides pilot logbooks to allow Young Eagles to record their flight and any subsequent aviation experiences.