EAA Chapter 1279 Begins the Year in a Big Way

Fallbrook, Calif. – March 3, 2006 – EAA Chapter 1279 members really enjoy giving youngsters their first ride in an airplane. We just had our January rally, and almost 40 kids and their parents participated. We hold our Young Eagles rallies at Fallbrook Community Airpark, in Fallbrook, California, near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Many of the kids we’ve flown have parents in the military. For this rally, we had 12 airplanes and pilots to fly the kids, and as you can tell from the pictures, we saw some big smiles. Each of the kids got to go up for a 15-20 minute flight and learn about what makes an airplane fly. The weather was mostly clear and cool, and the kids got to see the area they live in from 3,000 feet or higher. Some of them even got to see their homes if they wanted to. Since our chapter flies only one child per flight, everyone gets to try flying their airplane, too. Our volunteer pilots all brought different kinds of planes to fly the kids. There were both taildraggers and tricycle gears. Andy Thweatt brought the Murphy Rebel that he built. Andy's dad, Jerry brought the RV-6A that he built, and Skip Slater brought his Lancair ES, which he built, also. We also had several static display aircraft, including a Civil Air Patrol 182 and a Pitts racer. The planes brought great comments from both the kids and parents. Some of the members of Chapter 1279 are also members of Friends of Fallbrook Community Airpark, and this partnership has allowed a special interaction with the local community. All the volunteers involved, especially member Don Evans, provide a great opportunity in our Young Eagles rallies. We are all glad to help provide a place where young people can get a flight in a general aviation airplane. When we see the smiles, we know we’ve given them a great flying experience. Submitted by Dave Smith, EAA Chapter 1279 webm1279@eaa1279.org EAA Chapter 1279 Web Site

Ready for his next flying mission, an excited Young Eagle poses with his pilot, Major Sam Middleton, USMC, following his flight in Middleton’s Cessna 150. Andy Thweatt and a new Young Eagle following their flight A new Young Eagle poses with his pilot, Bill Clark and his Stinson 108-2 following the flight.

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