While DreamFlight Charities exists to explicitly bring the wonders of aviation to students in even the most remote parts of Kentucky, there are plenty of other nation-wide organizations that we have worked alongside in inspiring the next generation of aviators.
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Young Eagles program has been providing students 8-17 with their first free ride in an airplane for well over 30 years and provides students with even more resources to further explore their passion for flight. EAA Chapters can be found throughout the United States, and their programs are sure to help benefit young, aspiring aviators.
Free Young Eagle Flights
Since the programs start in 1992 (and at the time of this writing), the Young Eagles program has flown of 55,000 students, with nearly 5,000 volunteer pilots leading the charge in introducing youth to the wonders of flight.
Young Eagle events are a great way to gauge student interest while better connecting your student and family to the local aviation community. Be sure to visit this link to find an EAA Chapter or Young Eagles event near your!
Resources for Students, Parents, & Teachers
EAA’s AeroEducate is an exciting collaboration with North Carolina State University and other partners, providing both virtual and hands-on aviation activities designed to spark curiosity and ambition. Not only are students exposed to basic flight principles, they also explore the endless opportunities provided by the aviation industry as a whole.
Registering for AeroEducate is FREE, and you can learn more at this link.
Sporty's Learn to Fly Course
Students who participate in a free Young Eagles flight also receive access to a wealth of additional resources to engage and enable them in their aspirations of flight. Not only can they receive a free EAA student membership (with magazine subscription) and access to EAA’s AeroEducate enrollment, they also receive FREE access to Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course ($300 value).
This self-paced, online ground school course covers the knowledge requirements for the FAA Knowledge Exam – an essential item and first step for any budding pilot. But that’s not all! Completion of the course also provides students with a free flight lesson vouched and reimbursement for taking the exam (~$335 value).
EAA’s Young Eagle’s program is a great opportunity to introduce aviation to students while giving them their first experience of flight. Here at DreamFlight, we realize that we cannot accomplish our mission of inspiring and enabling the next generation of industry workers alone, and we are proud to have worked alongside EAA in numerous settings and are always happy to promote their Young Eagle events throughout the Commonwealth.
While there are plenty of opportunities to obtain free flight training resources for your students, don’t forget to check out our OpenSkies Flight Club – an opportunity in which we look to help students pace themselves through free resources like those offered by EAA, all while developing a community of aspiring aviators that can encourage one another in their respective journeys.