20th Anniversary AirVenture Cup Race Begins at Mount Vernon Outland Airport, Part 2 - Young Eagle Flights

By Carmelo Turdo

The 20th Anniversary AirVenture Cup Race, the prelude to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, was launched Sunday from Mount Vernon Outland Airport in central Illinois as a weather front arrived to break last week's scorching Midwest heat wave.  The race is the first official event of the nation's largest annual aviation gathering, and the third race in five years hosted by this airport.  Including support planes, over 100 aircraft were part of this year's race, the largest turnout in recent years.

As in previous years, Mount Vernon Outland Airport held an open house on Saturday prior to the race.  EAA Chapter 1155 member pilots, including Airport Manager Chris Collins, provided opportunities for youth aged 8-17 to take their first airplane flight free of charge through the EAA's Young Eagles program.  Flights were provided on demand throughout the day, and it appears that the airport and the aviation community made a lot of new friends that day.