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Detroit, Mich. – June 19, 2006 – Although June 10 was International Young Eagles Day, it was also the routinely scheduled Young Eagles Rally at Coleman Young International Airport in Detroit, Mich. Every second Saturday, youth from around the city arrive eager to take an airplane ride, but also to meet and hear amazing stories from the local Tuskegee Airmen.
With flights beginning at 10 a.m., pilots, children and parents start arriving by 9 a.m. Mark and Jennifer Jacob are the first to arrive, taxiing their vintage Cessna 120 up to the Young Eagle ramp, located right below the control tower. Once the coffee has started brewing pilots Ken and Linda Jordan and their daughter Heather arrive in their Piper Lance and Cessna 152. Heather Jordan, now a CFII began her journey of flight with her own Young Eagles flight, and now enjoys passing on her passion for flight with other children.
In the rare yellow Schweitzer Motorglider (SGM-237), owned and operated by the Tuskegee Airmen glider club, is Harry Stewart, an airmen who has some really amazing stories to tell of flying with the Fighting 99th in World War II. Harry Stewart recently earned his glider rating at the age of 80+. He is another who is a lifelong learner and pilot, and enjoys passing on his love of flight to Young Eagles.
Also taxiing onto the Young Eagle ramp are Howard Person in his Piper Cherokee 140, John Pappas in his Beech Bonanza and Johann Finkelmeyer in his World War II era Yak 52.
Always eager, the pilots begin flying kids well before the 10 a.m. start time. With general efficiency, ground crew Linda Jordan and Jennifer Jacob register and assign Young Eagles, while a number of local Tuskegee Airmen and Civil Air Patrol members assist in ramp control and general good cheer of all participants.
Today, June 10th, 2006, Ken Jordan will fly his 600th Young Eagle, John Pappas will fly his 200th, Mark Jacob his 275th, Howard Person his 74th, Harry Stewart his 15th and Heather Jordan her 12th Young Eagle, bringing the number of children given rides at Coleman Young International Airport well over 1,500 in the four years that the program has been running in the city.
As the day ends, there are many smiles from children and pilots alike, and the inevitable question of “when can I do it again?” Finally, the last new Young Eagle walks out the door, his or her certificate, poster, Gleim book, and often the autograph of a Tuskegee Airmen clutched in their hands, many dreaming of future flight.
Tired pilots and volunteers gather over food to recap another successful Young Eagle Rally. We will see you next month!
Submitted by Jennifer Jacob, EAA Chapter 1351
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A lucky Young Eagle gets a ride in Johann Finkelmeyer’s Yak 52.
Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart, gets ready to take a new Young Eagle up for a flight in the Tuskegee Airmen’s SGM 237 Motorglider. This airplane is one of only six still remaining.
John Pappas loads his 200th Young Eagle into his Bonanza on International Young Eagles Day, June 10, 2006.
Former Young Eagle Heather Jordan takes her first Young Eagle flying in September of 2005.
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