Article and Photos By Ted Luebbers
There was supposed to be a Young Eagles rally for young people on January 4, 2025 at The Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Florida.
It was canceled at the last minute due to high gusty winds.
EAA Chapter 534 always takes seriously any situation, including weather conditions, that might have a negative impact on the safety of the Young Eagle participants.
Needless to say, there were a lot of disappointed kids as well as pilots. However, chapter members stepped in to save the day.
Vice President, John Weber, taxied his Kitfox to the front of the EAA hangar for a demonstration of how to preflight an aircraft.
Other chapter members explained to youngsters, parents and friends, some of the aircraft building projects in the hangar.
Probably the hit of the day for the kids was being able to take turns operating the two flight simulators. This was done under supervision of EAA Chapter pilots.
They learned how easy it could be to control an airplane in flight.
The chapter wanted this to be a positive experience for them. It wouldn’t be good to start them out in rough bumpy winds that might be frightening to them or cause concern for their parents.
EAA Chapter 534 always stresses safety first before the fun.
This chapter runs Young Eagle Rallies the first Saturday of each month, weather permitting. All those who were disappointed on this day, were invited to return the following month.
The new Chapter Young Eagles Coordinator, Jack Hickey, when consulting with other Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 pilots, noted that the wind conditions had picked up. It was decided this might create problems for some of the light planes that would be used to fly the kids.
Jack Hickey and his wife Stephane, have taken over the position of Young Eagles Coordinator after Jodie Soule retired from that job after nine successful years.
Jack and Stephane had previously been Young Eagles coordinators for EAA Chapter 610 in Dayton, Ohio.
EAA Chapter 534 is sad to report that Jodie Soule passed away after a long illness. It seemed to her chapter friends that her commitment to the Young Eagles position had kept her going to the end of her life. She will long be remembered as a valued member.
Young Eagle flights are available to young people between the ages 8 to 17. These flights last 20 to 30 minutes and are completely free of charge.
EAA pilots volunteer their airplanes, time and fuel. Other chapter volunteers help with the paperwork, computer, and safe escort back and forth to the flight line.
After their flight the Young Eagle will receive a commemorative certificate of their flight and a Log book signed by their pilot.
They receive several additional perks, including a free on- line Sporty’s Learn to fly Course which will help them prepare for the Federal Aviation Administration written exam. This is a requirement to pass the Private Pilot exam. Upon successful completion of this course, they become eligible for one free flight lesson at a flight school of their choice.
All this is done to encourage a Young Eagle’s interest in aviation with the hope that one day they will become private pilots, or inspire their interest in some other area of aerospace.
For more information on the Young Eagles program go to www.EAA.org/YoungEagles.
SCN 7649 Getting ready for takeoff using the simulator. Alarik Schute, chapter treasurer doing the supervision.
DSCN 7650 Kids learn to fly using the EAA Chapter 534 Simulators. Bud Keil, showing the Young Eagle how to run the simulator.
DSCN 7652 Jack and Stephane Hickey, are the new Young Eagles Coordinators for EAA Chapter 534.
DSCN 7655 Chapter VP, John Weber, brought over his Kitfox for show and tell and to demonstrate how to do a preflight.
DSCN 4277 ( Circa 2019 file) ( R to L ) Jodie Soule, EAA Chapter 534 Young Eagle Coordinator– in red, and Joyce Catarineau,keeping track of all the paperwork for a rally
