Mt. Pleasant children take flight on Young Eagles Day

On June 4, children ages 8-17 were able to participate in the celebration of Young Eagles Day at the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport, 5453 E. Airport Rd, and, perhaps, initiated a lifelong passion for flight.

EAA Chapter 907 member and host of the event, Bill Cain, owns and operates Airplane N8314T, teaching children about his passion for aviation. From 9 am until noon, family and friends joined together as members of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 907 gave their children a free lesson on aviation.

Before children received a free ride in the pilot’s aircraft, Bill Cain, member of EAA Chapter 907 and host of the event, says that pilots gave children a tour of the plane and explained the different controls and their functions. 

After children had their seatbelts on, Cain explains that the pilot then demonstrated the flight instruments before taking off down the runway. Finally, once everyone was comfortable, an engine check was performed, then their 15 to 20 minute flight began.

On their airplane ride, children get to see what Mt. Pleasant looks like from up above - full of trees, grasslands, and farmlands.While high in the sky, pilots flew children down to Blanchard Road then over to Shepherd, Michigan. On the way back, children were able to get a view of the land that makes up Mt. Pleasant and its university – Central Michigan. If the pilot was close, children might have been lucky enough to see their home.

“Kids who are excited, the pilot will let them take control after takeoff. It’s fun to watch them turn the plane and experience what it’s like to be a pilot,” Cain says.

After a safe landing, children were greeted by their loved ones, and they received a certificate for completing their flight. 

For some children, Young Eagles Day was an opportunity to ride in an airplane for the first time, while for others, the event was about expanding one’s interest in becoming a pilot in the future. 

EAA is having a seven-day event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July 2022, celebrating 30 years. Cain said around 600,000 people attend to learn about the history of airplanes, world-class aerobatics and meet fellow aviation enthusiasts. 

To learn more about EAA, visit the website, https://www.eaa.org/eaa.