Total Number of Young Eagles Reaches 2.2 Million

January 30, 2020 - The biggest youth aviation education program hit another milestone this week, as the Young Eagles program surpassed 2.2 million kids flown since the first flights took place at the 1992 EAA Fly-In Convention at Oshkosh.

"As we reach each of these milestones, it's a further credit to the dedication of the EAA-member pilots and volunteers who have committed their time and aircraft to bringing young people into aviation," said Jack Pelton, EAA's CEO and chairman of the board. "The success of Young Eagles means thousands of today's under-40 pilots — both professional and recreational — can trace their personal journey back to that first flight with a Young Eagles pilot."

Young Eagles has also been the foundation of EAA's newer efforts to encourage and engage young people in aviation. That includes the Sporty's online Learn to Fly course, available to all Young Eagles and now approaching 75,000 enrollees. It also set the stage for last year's inaugural group of Ray Aviation Scholarship recipients, as more than 100 young people earned full flight training scholarships in conjunction with local EAA chapters.

Dozens of aviation companies also support Young Eagles, including Phillips 66, the program's presenting sponsor. Other supporting sponsors include Garmin, Lightspeed, Waco Aircraft, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and Global Aerospace, as well as Young Eagles flight plan sponsors Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sporty's Pilot Shop.

"To every pilot and ground volunteer who has been part of Young Eagles, the aviation community thanks you," Jack said. "If you haven't flown a Young Eagle yet, we enthusiastically invite you to do so. You will have a more impactful influence on the future of flight than you'll ever know."

More information is available at EAA's Young Eagles website.