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Kids get chance to soar during introductory Young Eagles flights

Utah Channel 3

CEDAR CITY — Several groups of youngsters took to the skies above Cedar City on Saturday, thanks to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program.

View of Cedar City from inside a Cessna R182 carrying three youngsters making their first Young Eagles flight, Cedar City, Utah, May 18, 2019 | Photo by Indiana Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Andrew Lloyd, an aviation student at Southern Utah University, helped organize the event, along with assistance from members of the Southern Utah EAA Chapter 936.

The idea behind the Young Eagles youth outreach program is to get children between ages 8-17 interested in aviation by providing them with an initial free flight experience, Lloyd said.

If the youngsters’ reactions on Saturday were any indication, it worked.

“I want to go again, like right now!” said Indiana Richards, 14, who rode on one of the flights along with her sister Geneva, 10, and Aspen Dail, 9.

Right after their 20-minute flight in a single-engine Cessna R182 , all three girls – none of whom had ever flown before – excitedly described their 20-minute experience circling Cedar City and surrounding areas.

L-R: Indiana Richards, Geneva Richards, pilot John Cavanagh and Aspen Dail after their introductory Young Eagles flight, Cedar City, Utah, May 18, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Check out the Cedar City News photo gallery below to see pictures Indiana took during the flight, along with some on the ground.

In one hour intervals, volunteer pilot John Cavanagh took turns taking groups of three children up into the air for an introductory flight. Before and during each flight, the youngsters were given basic explanations of the parts of the aircraft and how they work.

A total of 18 children in six groups participated on Saturday, Lloyd said. Each young flyer was given a special commemorative certificate and a personalized log book at the conclusion of their flight event.

“This is about getting them interested,” said Lloyd, who first received his pilot’s license at age 18 and is studying to become a flight instructor through Southern Utah University. “The next step would be to find an instructor.”

Pat Carroll of the EAA Chapter 936, which is based in Hurricane, says the group conducts Young Eagles rallies on a regular basis. No date has yet been set for the next planned event. For more information, send an email to eaachapter936@gmail.com or youngeaglescedarcity@gmail.com.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Email: jrichards@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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