Young Eagles Pass 2M Youth Flight Mark

EAA has added 700 new volunteer pilots this year.

Friday, September 27, 2024 at 02:54 PM ET

Verified

Young Eagles has flown more than 2.4 million flights, of which more than 38,000 came in 2024, according to EAA. [Courtesy: David Leiting]

Key Takeaways:

The Young Eagles program has exceeded 2.4 million youth flights, with activity returning to pre-pandemic levels and former NFL All-Pro Jimmy Graham recently appointed as its new chairman.
There is a continuous and urgent need for more volunteer pilots to meet the high demand from eager youth and ensure the program's vitality, despite 700 new pilots joining this year.
Beyond initial flights, the program offers a comprehensive "Young Eagles Flight Plan," providing participants with free EAA membership, flight training courses, FAA exam reimbursement, and flight lesson vouchers to foster continued aviation education.

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Young Eagles, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s youth aviation program, has flown more than 2.4 million flights, of which more than 38,000 came in 2024, according to the organization.

“It’s been great to see Young Eagles activity return to pre-pandemic levels,” David Leiting, Jr., Eagles program manager, said in a statement. “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.”

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.