A very active summer of Young Eagles flights has pushed the total number of young people flown past 2.4 million, the latest milestone in what has become the world’s largest youth aviation education program.
“It’s been great to see Young Eagles activity return to pre-pandemic levels,” said David Leiting, EAA’s Eagles Program manager. “As we headed into the always-active fall flight rally period, our volunteer pilots had already flown more than 38,000 Young Eagles in 2024, and we’ve welcomed more than 700 new pilots into the program this year. We thank all our pilots and ground support volunteers, who are planting those seeds with young people that will keep aviation vibrant for years to come.”
This year has also been a noteworthy one for many other reasons. NFL All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham, an active Young Eagles pilot, moved from the program co-chair position to Young Eagles chairmanship during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. He succeeds air show legend Sean D. Tucker, who did tremendous work for the program during his decade as chairman.
In addition, the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course available at no charge to all Young Eagles has expanded its offerings for those who want to take the next step. EAA’s growing AeroEducate program also provides online resources for Young Eagles of all levels who want to explore more about the world of flight – again at no charge.
The majority of Young Eagles flights take place through EAA’s chapter network, but whether it’s through a chapter or individual flights, we encourage all EAA members to participate in building the next generation of aviators. To find out how you can get involved, go to EAA.org/YoungEagles.
Phillips 66 is the presenting sponsor of Young Eagles, while Sporty’s and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are the official sponsors of the Young Eagles Flight Plan. Young Eagles is also supported by United Aviate, Garmin, Lightspeed, Global Aerospace, and the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
