Young Eagles Take Flight at Creve Coeur Airport Fall Rally

By Carmelo Turdo

Creve Coeur Airport hosted their second Young Eagle rally of the year on Saturday, October 9. The event, sponsored by the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation (GYAF) and EAA Chapter 32, provided first flight opportunities to 60 youth aged 8-17 as well as fun and educational aviation exhibits in and around the Foundation's hangar. A follow-up to the Youth Aviation Day held in June, this Young Eagle rally continues the cooperative effort by the GYAF and EAA Chapter 32 to inspire youth interest in aviation through a systematic program of practical skill development and, of course, flying! 

The Aero Experience coverage begins with a look at the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation's aviation exhibit area. The young fliers and their families were welcome to enjoy the outdoor exhibits, including the F-4 Phantom jet cockpit, Bell Helicopter OH-58C Kiowa, Cessna 150 and a fleet of pedal planes for those who could fit in them. Inside the Foundation hangar, educational exhibits covered aircraft powerplants - turbine and piston engines, cockpit instruments with gyroscope demonstration, and aeronautical chart reading/navigation. The Foundation's VR flight simulators were in high demand throughout the day.

EAA Chapter 32, normally based at St. Charles County Airport Smartt Field, flew their scheduled October Young Eagle rally at Creve Coeur Airport instead of their home field in conjunction with the GYAF's educational exhibits. EAA Chapter pilots, ground crews and even the cooks brought everything they needed for the day's flights, lunch fundraiser and even their monthly scheduled Scout Aviation Badge workshop. Six aircraft of various types and seating capacity flew the Young Eagles within the flow of the normal airport traffic, with time between flights for a short ground instruction session and presentation of certificates and logbooks.

The Aero Experience thanks Creve Coeur Airport, the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation and EAA Chapter 32 for teaming up to produce an enjoyable youth aviation event. We look forward to promoting similar events in the year to come. The GYAF will continue to serve visitors throughout the year - contact them for availability.