Young Eagles Programs gives local youth free flights

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) --The Young Eagles Program offered local youth the chance to make their flying and aviation dreams a reality on Saturday.

Free flights were given for kids between the ages of 8 to 17 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, with experienced pilots teaching them about the technical skills and the process of flying a plane. The program started back in 1992 and has given over 2.5 million kids the opportunity to learn about flying.

"Most of us started our flying careers by being little boys and girls who run out of the house every time they hear a plane every time," Young Eagles Coordinator Mark Tyrrell said. "Every time they see a control, they want to go check out a plane. We're able to give them that experience just by introducing them the same way we were introduced by getting out, seeing and flying."

The Young Eagles program will offer another session of free flights in the fall.