In a heartwarming turn of events, Luke Nunez, once a Young Eagle himself, took to the skies again—this time as a pilot—on May 11, 2024, at Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) in Leesburg, Florida. His mission was to give another young aviation enthusiast the same exhilarating experience he once enjoyed.
Luke’s first Young Eagle passenger was 11-year-old Amalie Weaver, a spirited young girl with a keen interest in aviation. During the flight, held during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 534’s regular Young Eagles rally, Amalie eagerly took the right seat, where she got a chance to fly the plane under Luke’s watchful eye.
Luke, a private pilot and the chapter’s 2023 Ray Aviation Scholarship recipient, is currently working on his instrument rating and has secured a full-time position at Sunair Aviation. His ambition is to become a Certified Flight Instructor and eventually fly for an airline.
Luke was one of eight dedicated EAA Chapter 534 pilots who volunteered their time, planes, and fuel to introduce young enthusiasts to aviation. Joining him in flying Young Eagles for the first time with EAA Chapter 534 was another new pilot, Roger Sturtevant.
A Successful Rally
During the rally, 15 young people, accompanied by their parents, signed up for flights. They arrived at the chapter hangar around 9 a.m., completed the necessary paperwork, and were assigned to a chapter pilot and plane. Joel Hargis, the chapter’s chief Young Eagles pilot, conducted an orientation, emphasising that safety is the top priority, followed closely by having fun.
Chloe Kadletz, one of the chapter’s Ray Aviation Scholars and now a private pilot, demonstrated a preflight aircraft check, giving the Young Eagles a glimpse into the meticulous preparations pilots undertake before every flight.
Inspiring the Next Generation
These general aviation flights aim to ignite a passion for aviation in young people, often leading them to pursue careers as pilots or in other aerospace fields. The Young Eagle program, open to youth aged 8 to 17 with parental permission, offers 20 to 30-minute flights at no cost. During the flight, pilots may invite the young passengers to try their hand at flying the plane, all under expert supervision.
Each Young Eagle receives a commemorative certificate and logbook signed by their pilot, along with free access to Sporty’s Learn to Fly online course, which prepares them for the FAA written exam.
For more information about the Young Eagles program, visit EAA.org or EAAChapter534.org.
