Молодые орлы: программа знакомства с авиацией для детей

the 1930 film
Charitable event sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association
The Young Eagles is a program created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association designed to give children between the ages of 8 and 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation. The program is offered free of charge with costs covered by the volunteers. It was launched in 1992 and, by 2016, had flown more than 2 million children in 90 countries, making it the most successful program of its kind in history. The presenting sponsors for it are Phillips 66 and Sporty's Pilot Shop.

Project Schoolflight, co founded by EAA founder Paul Poberezny in 1955, served as the inspirational predecessor program to the Young Eagles, ending in 1978. In 1991, a survey of long time EAA members was conducted to help determine the nascent organization's future priorities. Nearly 92 percent said EAA's primary objective should be to involve more young people in aviation. The survey also showed that a flight experience inspired respondents toward aviation. On May 13, 1992, following several months of coordination by EAA's then President Tom Poberezny and members of the EAA Board of Directors, management, staff and volunteers, the Young Eagles Program was unveiled at a Washington, D. C. news conference. The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in a general aviation aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of 8 and 17). Flights are provided by EAA members worldwide. The program is administered by the Young Eagles Office at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since 1994, "International Young Eagles Day," a day set aside to encourage all EAA members and Chapters to participate is held annually on the second Saturday of June. At AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, EAA unveiled a new program called "Eagle Flights," which will offer rides for adults.

In Canada the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association participated in the Young Eagles program between 1992 and 2008. COPA members had flown more than 81,000 Young Eagles. COPA participation was ended on May 31, 2008, due to insurance concerns.

More than 43,000 pilots have participated in the program, donating their time and paying the full cost of providing the flights for the children in their own or rented aircraft. While some pilots have only flown a few Young Eagles there are many pilots who have flown more than three thousand children.

At the program's inception EAA decided to continuously recruit a well known person and pilot to act as Chairman and raise the profile of the program. The program's founding chairman was Academy Award winning film actor Cliff Robertson, who served in that capacity from 1992 to 1994. Robertson was succeeded in 1994 by retired USAF General and test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager stepped down as chairman in 2004 and, in March 2004, franchise film actor Harrison Ford became Chairman of the Young Eagles program. Ford has flown more than 300 Young Eagles, including the 2 millionth Young Eagle, in several types of aircraft, and finished his five year term in 2009. In July 2013, aerobatic world champion pilot Sean D. Tucker replaced Sullenberger and Skiles as chairman. In July 2018, NFL tight end Jimmy Graham joined Tucker as the organization's co chairman.

Rolls Royce contributed in 2010 six flight scholarships for basic flight training, and one for advanced training toward a private pilot certificate.

In May 2009, EAA joined with Sporty's Pilot Shop of Batavia, Ohio, to provide the Next Step to the Young Eagles Flight experience. Sporty's has made their on line Complete Flight Training Course available to any interested Young Eagle following their flight. Sporty's also provides pilot logbooks to allow Young Eagles to record their flight and any subsequent aviation experiences.