Young Eagles - Program History

Program History

In 1991, a survey of long-time EAA members was conducted to help determine the organization’s future priorities. Nearly 92 percent said EAA’s primary objective should be to involve more young people in aviation. The survey also showed that a flight experience inspired respondents toward aviation. On May 13, 1992, following several months of coordination by members of the EAA Board of Directors, EAA management, staff and volunteers, EAA’s Young Eagles Program was unveiled at a Washington, D.C., news conference.

The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in a general aviation aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of 8 and 17). Flights are provided by EAA members world wide.

The initial goal of the program was to fly one million children prior to the 100th anniversary of flight celebration (Dec. 17, 2003). That goal was achieved on November 13, 2003. An on-going annual goal of introducing 100,000 young people to the Young Eagles experience has been established.

In March 2011 EAA reported the results of a study on the program that showed that program participants are 5.4 times more likely to become a pilot than those who never participated and that 9% of those new pilots are female, an increase of 50% compared to the general population of pilots, which is 6% female. The study also indicated that the older a child is when taking their flight that it is the more likely that child will become a pilot, with two out of every 100 participants who are 17 years old continuing to complete a pilot certificate. The program is administered by the Young Eagles Office at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, they unveiled a new program called "International Young Eagles Day," a day set aside to encourage all EAA members and Chapters to participate that is held on the second Saturday of June annually.