Young Eagles rally's are for 8-17 year olds with a goal of creating a positive experience that promotes aviation, but the really awesome part of this is that youth get an airplane ride! Come join us, EAA Chapter 32 has a building at St. Charles County Airport in Portage Des Sioux, which is our HQ for this event.
Young Eagles will be queued on a first come, first ride scenario. Please pre-register to help us with our paperwork, but we do accept walk in's when we are able. We do our best to accomodate everyone and we usually are able to, but there are variables might have impact like the number of pilots available to fly, and the weather.
All young eagles will need to be 8-17, and with legal guardian signature of waiver to be able to fly. As much as we may want to take you on a ride, we simply cannot make exceptions to these rules.
Safety is paramont. It is possible that some get to fly and then the event gets called off for those who have been patiently waiting in line. We wish this for no one, but we don't compromise safety. We do not reschedule cancelled or called off rally's, but please know that we plan rally's once a month from April - October every year. If you have bad luck at this one, please stick with us and try again next month. It's also okay to come back again even if you were able to fly.
While our Chapter 32 HQ building doors might be open at 8 or 8:30, we do pilot safety briefings and normally cannot hit the skies until around 9. Feel free to arrive early and wait, but understand we must fufill our safety protocols before taking to the air.
There may be a wait time of an hour or two, please be patient with us as we do our best to make it as efficient as possible. This is staffed by volunteers, people who simply love aviation and want to share it. We hope you join us, at this rally or the next, or maybe both. We genuinely want you to learn and grow and have an amazing aviation experience. Perhaps you'll love it enought that you'll want to join us as a member!
Meet your Pilot
The pilots who participate in the Young Eagles program are local members of EAA who are volunteering their time and aircraft to make your flight possible. Each Young Eagles pilot is certificated with the Federal Aviation Administration or Transport Canada. Flights are conducted according to federal regulations and no aerobatic maneuvers will be performed.
What will my pre-flight be like?
First of all, your pilot will explain what you will see and do. This may include explaining how airplanes work, looking at an aeronautical chart (or map), and describing the interior of the airplane, including the instrument panel. Then comes the fun part: you get to go flying!
Safety Reminders
Safety is always top priority when it comes to aviation. Listen and follow instructions given by your pilot, stay away from the propellers, and stay with your pilot or ground crew at all times.
What will my flight be like?
You will spend about 15 to 20 minutes in the air and follow the basic steps in the flight pattern. You will experience the awesome feeling of flight that many people only dream about. Many people remember this experience for the rest of their lives. You will, too!