Oct. 12, 2012 —
Jim Fluty has been fascinated with the sky since he was 7 years old.
It was his love of flying that got him involved in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
The organization allows young people to get involved in aviation to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge. The association developed the Young Eagles program that provides courtesy flights for kids interested in aviation.
Fluty, who is the treasurer of EAA Chapter 1525 in Rowan County, also takes kids flying in hopes of passing along his passion for flight.
“Last year I flew five young eagles, ” Fluty said. “This year I flew 19.”
“Our chapter focuses more on the young eagles which are from 8 to 17 to get them involved in flight,” Fluty said. “It might spark something that could make them want to take up aviation as a hobby.”
Since the program started in 1992, EAA pilots have flown more than 1.4 million young persons in about 90 countries.
Actor Harrison Ford is an EAA member who has flown more than 300 Young Eagles.
US Airways flight crew Chesley Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles, who successfully landed Flight 1549 in the Hudson River during takeoff in 2009, are co-chairmen of the Young Eagles.
The local EAA chapter held a “Young Eagles Flight Rally” on Sept. 23 where several kids took to the skies with Fluty to see Rowan County from the air.
About 90 kids signed up for the event. Five pilots took them up three at a time.
“When they have fun, it makes me feel good,” Fluty said.
He recalled the experience of one young girl on her first flight:
“She got into the plane, buckled up her seat belt and made sure everything was done, and put her headset on and crossed her arms and hands and looked down into her lap,” Fluty said. “She could see things moving but really couldn’t see.”
After getting her attention a few times while in the air, she finally looked up.
“She never looked down after that,” Fluty said. “It was just ‘wow’ look at all that stuff out there. It was a nice clear day so they could see very far.”
Fluty said many kids who take part in a flight have come back to fly again to enjoy the experience of being in the air.
“It’s very rewarding,” Fluty said. “It makes me feel good inside to see the kids really enjoy this and it’s something that I never was allowed to do or experience at that age.”
For more information on the EAA and EAA Young Eagles program, can go to www.eaa.org or www.youngeagles.org.
MacKenzie Bates can be reached at mbates@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
Local News
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A plane getting set to take off with members of the Young Eagles EAA program on Sept. 23. Photo by Tina McWain
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