Meet Aviore

July 28, 2017 - Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee and EAA CEO and Chairman Jack J. Pelton introduced a new superhero named Aviore yesterday at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017. Aviore’s mission is to promote The Spirit of Aviation and the EAA’s Young Eagles program.

“It’s very important that we get young people more interested in aviation,” Stan, exhibiting his customary brio, told the crowd gathered at Boeing Plaza for the announcement. “One of the problems is, it doesn’t seem as exciting or glamorous to them today because it’s all jet planes, and they have the notion the pilot gets in the cockpit, sits down, presses a button, and goes to sleep while the plane does the work. We’ve got to find a way to let the young people know that there’s something very heroic and glamorous about flying a jet, and it’s not as easy at it looks.”

Joining Stan and Jack on the stage was Aviore himself, bedecked in a form-fitting blue uniform with gold boots, gloves, and scarf. Aviore also represents an alliance between EAA and the Stan Lee Foundation, with the two organizations working together to develop aviation-related programming and content that will encourage youngsters to get involved in all aspects of aviation.

“It doesn’t all have to do with piloting the plane,” Stan said. “There are so many other ways you can be involved with it. You could be in the control tower, be a mechanic, or you could be a guy like me who just rides in the planes, but we’re going to do what we can to make American youth more conscious of a career as an aviator, or anything to do with planes.”

Aviore, who said he arrived in his VariEze, parked by the side of the stage, added he has eagle vision, knows “everything that makes a pilot great,” and …

“He can’t even tell you all his superpowers,” Stan said, cutting off the superhero, “because a lot of them are secret, and if the bad guys find out, they’ll start to find ways to combat them, so we’re just being quiet about Aviore. The point is, whatever comes up, he can handle it.”

Asked by Jack about his impressions of AirVenture thus far, Stan said, “It takes a lot to impress me — I’m pretty damn impressed! It’s like a whole city full of airplanes and excitement and wonder. I don’t know to describe this when I get home so I can do it justice. I have never been more impressed. It must have taken a year just to set it up.”

Told by Jack that it was accomplished thanks to the efforts of more than 5,000 volunteers, Stan responded, “Five thousand volunteers? We have trouble hiring an office boy in our office in L.A.”

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Young Eagles program that Aviore will help promote has given more than 2 million youngsters their first flight in a GA aircraft, with the help of 50,000 pilots and 50,000 ground volunteers. Past Young Eagles chairmen include actors Harrison Ford and Cliff Robertson, legendary pilot Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, and Miracle on the Hudson pilots Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles.

“We cannot express deeply enough our appreciation to Stan Lee and the Stan Lee Foundation for their support of Young Eagles,” Jack said. “With their commitment, we will bring Young Eagles even more visibility and participation in the next quarter-century.”

Aviore — The Backstory

Jake Peregrine Howard — Perry to his friends — is a young high school student living on a farm just outside of Wichita, Kansas, who’s infatuated with the eagles and hawks he’s seen soaring in the skies above him. Then, a Young Eagles flight at the local airport — his first time in the air — changes his life forever. The event triggers a powerful transformation of both mind and body, as his senses became more acute and his mind sharpens, and Perry becomes a superhero, dedicating his life to using the power of flight to help those in need. As his legend grows in tandem with his burgeoning superpowers, he becomes an inspiration to young people all over the world, encouraging them to follow their passions and find their place in the sky.