Young Eagles Day Set For August 3
The Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) is set to host Young Eagles Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 3. As part of the Young Eagles Day event, MGW and local members of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc. (EAA) will provide free airplane rides to children ages 8 to 17 with a parent or guardians consent.
Last years event had over 110 kids in attendance. This year, Young Eagles Coordinator, Ritchard Judy hopes to reach the maximum attendance of 225 kids. Families have already begun registering for this years event, some coming from as far away as Washington, DC.
This event, which has been occuring at the Morgantown Municipal Airport for over 10 years, allows local pilots of the EAA to share their passion for flying and expose the next generation of kids to careers in aviation and the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
"We love hosting the Young Eagles Day event every year," said Airport Director, Jon Vrabel "This event, which not only showcases the planes and pilots, also shows the airport and its facilities to young people and their families. At the end of the day, this helps to promote the importance of aviation infrastructure and the role it plays in our local economy and transportation network."
During each flight, attendees will be able to see a variety of Morgantown landmarks including Mountaineer Field and the WVU Coliseum. In addition to the airplane ride, participants will be able to hear how airplanes function, analyze aeronautical charts and inspect equipment both inside and outside of the plane. Each flight is about 15 to 20 minutes long and will follow the basic steps of a typical flight pattern.
“By introducing kids to the aviation field at a young age, it piques their interest, and they can begin to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them,” said Ritchard Judy, Young Eagles Coordinator. “From pilots to mechanics, air traffic controllers and management, all of the roles are equally important, and we are always looking to lead future generations to this career path.”
The EAA conceived the Young Eagles program in 1992, setting out initially to provide 1 million kids with their first free airplane ride by the 100th anniversary of powered flight, achieved on November 13, 2003. Since then, due to the popularity, the program has continued to thrive over the years with over 2.3 million youth having now experienced their inaugural flight.
The pilots who participate in the Young Eagles program are local members of the EAA who are volunteering their time and aircraft to make the event possible. Each pilot is certified with the Federal Aviation Administration or Transport Canada and conducts their flights in accordance with federal regulations. No aerobatic maneuvers will be performed during this event.
This event free to the public but it is recommended to register online prior to the event in order to skip standing in line on the day of the event. On the day of the event, participants should check in at the terminal building near the baggage claim area and beside the rental car agencies.
The link for registering is:
http://youngeaglesday.org/?11269
For more information, or in case of questionable weather, contact the organizers via email at 842youngeagles@gmail.com.