EAA Chapter 91-Young Eagles

EAA Chapter 91
Lee's Summit Airport, MO
LXT

Introduction

Get A Free Flight!

Ever looked up at an aircraft flying over, and wondered what it's like to fly? Or, what the ground looks like from above? If you are 8 to 17 years old, the EAA Young Eagles program wants to offer you the chance of a lifetime. Turn your dreams into reality on a free Young Eagles flight and become one of over 2 million Young Eagles! To find out where and when, see Chapter 91 events below. Search for Young Eagles events in other areas

For more information, see the FAQs below, then contact Young Eagles Coordinator Chris St.Germain

Young Eagles Dates

EXPECTED SCHEDULE - please check back a couple of days before attending an event. Any changes will be noted below.

Young Eagles dates in 2025 (all tentative)

April 19 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport click here to register

May 17 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport click here to register

June 21 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport click here to register

July 19 - NO EVENT; we'll be at Oshkosh for AirVenture!

August 16 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport click here to register

September 20 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport click here to register

October 18 - Lee's Summit Municipal Airport Click here to register

Hours at Lee's Summit: typically registration opens at 7:45, flights begin at 8:00, until 11:00 (may be adjusted for individual events; proper times for each event will be shown when registering on Young Eagles Day)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is the event held?

Lee’s Summit Airport is near I-470 and MO-Hwy 291. Our main building is on the west side of the parking lot at the end of Douglas St. (2750 NE Douglas). The intersection of Douglas and Lee’s Summit Rd. is 1/2 mile north of Colburn Rd (95th St). Our building is a blue hangar with a Cessna plane on a post in the front, easy to spot! The building may be entered from the parking lot, going up the sidewalk through the white door, or on the north side within the security fence, if the gate is open during the event.

How do we sign up?

Participation is easy. Come to one of the events listed in the schedule. We started using a new electronic registration system in 2021, so you can register in advance with a PC, tablet or smartphone. A parent or legal guardian will need to fill out a registration/permission form. When you check in at the event, we'll print your form for the parent/guardian to sign, or have you sign digitally on a tablet. Sorry, but relatives, friends, neighbors, etc. cannot sign for the parent. You can also walk in and register at the event, if capacity is available, but only after pre-registered youth are flown. Paper forms that have been used the past years are still acceptable, if they are current (revised 6/21). Be aware that there are websites that have a Young Eagles form for download. These are often outdated or obsolete, so please DO NOT download them, as we cannot accept them. We do want everyone to transition to the electronic registration, which has many advantages, and paper forms will no longer be used at some point. The website for registration is EAAChapters.org. If an event is not visible, it is not yet open for registration. Once open, there will be a link above, following the date.

When does registration open?

Registration opens beginning 4 weeks prior to the event date, at 2pm, on the EAAChapters.org website. If a previous event is rained out, those registered will move to the next event, so it may immediately appear full.

Why does it say "Registration Closed"?

Once our maximum capacity is reached, the system doesn't allow more registrations. We typically have some "no-shows", so might have capacity open up late in the event, and can register on-site. If the event is full, you are welcome to come inquire about a flight, about 45 minutes before the scheduled end. There are no guarantees, but we will try to accommodate you, and often can. Also, if anyone cancels before the event, those spots will reopen for someone else to use. This will show on the registration website, and it will show Registration Open until capacity is reached again. First come, first served.

Is there a waitlist?

No, we don't use a waitlist. We aren't advised of cancellations so can't notify a waitlist. Just watch the website regularly to see if registration has reopened.

What if the weather is bad?

Weather in the midwest is not very predictable. We rarely cancel an event in advance, as we often don't know whether we can fly or not until the time has come. We are always at the airport, in any case. Our flights can be impacted by low clouds, poor visibility, high winds or excess turbulence. Days with clouds are often good for flying, so don't be fooled by your observations. During our season, rain tends to be showery, so it comes and goes. It may delay us starting, but it's likely we'll get some flying in later. Very light rain may be no problem. We might even have a gorgeous day, but much turbulence. If the pilot thinks that the kids will be uncomfortable, they may choose not to fly. We don't want a child having a bad experience, and be unwilling to fly again. Safety is always primary, for your children and our pilots. The capability of aircraft varies, so the pilot will be the ultimate judge of whether they can fly or not.

In case of poor weather, is there a make-up date?

No, it takes a large amount of work to empty the hangar and set up for an event, then put it all back. The "make-up" will be the next regular monthly event.

What does the flight cost?

It's free. Our pilots bear the cost of the flight, which is the structure of the program. We do have a donation box, and those donations help defray our costs, as well as funding tuition to an aviation-themed summer camp for 12 through 18-year-olds.

Can you handle groups?

Yes, we regularly host church youth groups, Scout troops, school groups, Junior ROTC, etc. Please contact the Young Eagle Coordinator first if you want to bring a group.

My child will be 8 years old in just a few weeks. Can she/he fly?

No, the age range is firm. We aren't offering a simple sight-seeing flight, but an aviation educational experience. A younger child might very well have fun, but we want them to learn while flying, too. The Young Eagles Program is on-going, so they will be able to fly when they meet the necessary age.

Do the parents get to go with the kids?

No, Young Eagles is a youth program. The pilots bear the cost of the flight, and they participate to inspire kids to get into aviation. Adults may go to any airport with a flight school and purchase a sight-seeing flight. Parents with a keen interest in flight can ask us about Eagle Flights, for ages 18+.

I have several kids. Can they all fly together?

Our aircraft can hold one to three passengers. The mix of aircraft varies at each event. We will try to accommodate your request, but there are no guarantees. If you desire that your three kids all fly together, they may wait longer for their flight than those willing to go by themselves in a 2-seat aircraft. Aircraft are sensitive to weight, and being properly balanced. Larger or heavier kids won't fit in all the aircraft, so we will determine how to load them and on which aircraft. Two large kids might even maximize the weight capacity of a 4-seat aircraft, so the flight will be limited to two kids so safety and performance are not compromised.

What if my child is afraid to fly?

We wouldn't encourage you to "push" them. We want them to have a fun, educational experience. Our pilots are not pleased to have a child leave having had a bad experience. We suggest you just "hang out" and watch the activities. Often, the kids will realize that the others are having fun, and will change their mind. If they are there alone, we can try to put them with other kids in a 4-seat aircraft.

Do you ever run out of time to fly all the kids?

Yes, but not often. All of our members are volunteers, and have other things to do like all of us with busy lives, so we must have a stopping point. Sometimes, we can extend a little beyond the scheduled time, but there are no guarantees.

What do we need to bring?

Excitement! That's it. Well, some money or a card if you want to have breakfast! We suggest being aware of the weather, so a rain jacket, if rain is possible. At the spring and fall events, it can be chilly in the morning, so dress appropriately. If you bring a jacket or umbrella, please remember to take it with you, as many are forgotten. The kids can take a camera or phone on the flight.

To our regular attendees: As our program's popularity has grown, it has been a challenge to fly all those that attend. We're delighted you enjoy Young Eagles enough to come back. We also have many kids coming for their first time. We'll do our best to fly all those that show up, however, we do have the option of giving priority to first-time flyers. We appreciate your understanding.

What will the flight be like...

The biggest question on your mind might be about the actual flight. So, what should you expect?

First of all, your pilot will explain what will happen during the flight. This might include talking about the airplane; completing a "walk around" preflight inspection of the airplane; reviewing an aeronautical chart (or map); and identifying the parts that control the airplane.

When you are ready to enter the aircraft, your pilot will help you buckle your seat belt and describe the interior, including the instrument panel. You'll likely put on a headset that will help you to talk and hear the others in the aircraft over the wind and engine noise.

Once in the air, you’ll see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way. You’ll experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many people only dream about. You might be surprised at how big things now look pretty small, or you'll notice things that you never knew were there. If you are like most Young Eagles, you’ll remember this experience for the rest of your life.

Young Eagle flights usually last between 15 and 20 minutes. Once back on the ground, there will be additional time for you to ask questions about the flight. Your pilot will be happy to tell you more about flying and their particular airplane. You’ll also receive an official Young Eagles certificate, which is signed by your personal pilot and our Chairman, Sean D. Tucker, one of the very top airshow pilots in the world.

We look forward to adding your name to the ever-growing list of EAA Young Eagles!

For more information, visit the EAA Young Eagles Website.

The Program

The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation aircraft. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.

Since 1992, more than 2 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by over 45,000 volunteer pilots

If you are not in the Kansas City area to attend one of our events, please search for a Young Eagles Coordinator in your area here: find a pilot

We hope you enjoy a Young Eagles introduction to the exciting world of aviation. Make sure you come back to visit this web site after your flight to continue exploring the wonderful world of aviation! Also, be sure to visit the World's Largest Logbook to search for your name. Please allow about three weeks after your flight. search Logbook

For more information, visit the EAA Young Eagles website.

A new milestone (million-stone?) was reached in July, 2016. Harrison Ford, former chairman of Young Eagles for many years, flew Young Eagle #2,000,000 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during AirVenture, the annual convention and airshow. The current chairman, Sean D. Tucker, flew Young Eagle #2,000,001 to start us on a new million-flown.