Brookings FLying Club Young Eagles Day

Young Eagles Day at Brookings

Chuck Yeager gives one hour talk to an enthusiastic crowd at the Brookings Airport

Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier, gave a one hour talk to a crowd of about 400 people at the Brookings Airport to promote the Young Eagles program on Sunday, March 9, 2003. Yeager is in the area every year to promote the Young Eagles. The Young Eagles program was developed by the Experimental Aircraft Association to encourage young people to become a part of the world of flight. To date, approximately 885,477 children have taken part in the program. Yeager, honorary chairman of the Young Eagles, has made a goal of bringing the number of Young Eagles up to 1 million by Dec. 17, 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers historic flight at Kitty Hawk.

Yeager spoke to 87 of the 127 kids who had signed up for the rides, their parents, and many others who showed up in the ugly weather to hear the General speak.. The general public was asked to make a $5 donation for the program. The money was to be shared by the Chuck Yeager Foundation, which donates the proceeds to aviation educational programs, and the Brookings Flying Club, which awards scholarships for Brookings Harbor High School graduates. Yeager said that he wanted all the money to go to the Brookings Flying club scholorship fund.

Weather was high wind, fog and rain, and the 127 rides that were to be given was postponed to another date to be announced. Pilots from the Brookings Flying Club and Crescent City will donate their time and airplanes for the flights, and will contact the kids when they are able to and the weather cooperates. Flights will be truly "hands on" with all participating young people given an opportunity to handle the controls. 5 lucky kids' names were drawn out of a hat by Yeager for the opportunity to fly with the General himself. Unfortunately, to get those rides, they will have to travel to the town Yeager lives in to get the rides, but they can do it anytime in the next year.

This event was sponsored by Dan Brattain, general manager of Cal-Ore Life Flight, and the Brookings Flying Club. Cal-Ore covered all incidental expenses so that total donations went toward scholarship and educational funds.