The Truckee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival has come and gone and it was a great event. The local EAA Chapter 1073 registered Young Eagles on the day of the air show, and gave them free airplane rides the next day.

Several volunteers helped with registration Saturday and then helped with keeping things organized on Sunday when several pilots brought their aircraft out to fly the Young Eagles. The whole team of about 20 volunteers supported doing flights for 128 very happy kids.

The EAA's Young Eagles Program introduces young people ages 8 through 17 to aviation by giving them a free airplane ride. Pilots receive no compensation other than the smiles they see on the youths' faces.

EAA pilots have flown more than 1.8 million Young Eagles across the nation and in several other nations since the program started in 1992. The local chapter has flown more than 2,500.

Once a youngster becomes a Young Eagle, many opportunities open to them, including a free Sporty's Learn to Fly Course, EAA Student Membership, scholarships, etc. For more information on the program visit youngeagles.org

Many thanks to all of our volunteer ground crew and our volunteer pilots. Thanks also to the Young Eagles who flew with us and got a taste of the joy of flying over our beautiful area.

Tom Meadows is the EAA 1073 Young Eagles Coordinator.