EAA Chapter 677 member Dorinda Morpeth, EAA 637600, flew her 300th Young Eagle on March 30. Dorinda is a longtime Young Eagles volunteer and only the fourth Chapter 677 pilot to achieve this milestone. Her first 150 missions were in her Piper Colt carrying one Young Eagle at a time. Today, she flies a beautiful 1952 C-170B and has volunteered at 28 of the past 46 chapter rallies.
Dorinda said she enjoys flying Young Eagles because she thinks it is a great program that can open the door to young people who might never have had an opportunity to fly in an airplane.
“We need to encourage the next generation to take an interest in flying and Young Eagles is the perfect way to spark an interest in airplanes,” Dorinda said. “I am proud to share the C-170B with the kids and know I am helping to transfer an interest in aviation to the next generation.”
With a bit of scheduling magic at the registration desk, Dorinda’s 299th and 300th Young Eagles were her grandchildren.
“Olivia, who is 10, did a sleepover at my house so she went with me to the airport that morning,” Dorinda said. “I only needed to fly four more kids to reach the 300 Young Eagles milestone. I called my son and told him we didn’t have a big turnout of kids that morning and to bring my grandson, Dawson (8) to the airport. It was great that they were able to share the day with me.”
Dorinda started flying in the fall of 1998, since then, she has enjoyed many opportunities and made some amazing memories.
“[One] of my most memorable experiences flying was with Lee Lauderback in a P-51 Mustang at Stallion 51, in Kissimmee, Florida,” Dorinda said. “I enjoy fly-camping and fly-ins. I have been to the [South East] Regional Fly-In in Evergreen, Alabama, and three times to the Triple Tree Fly-In. Other moments were seeing someone’s marriage proposal written in giant letters [over] a field and watching a fog bank roll up and over a mountain.”
Dorinda said she highly encourages young people to experience flying through the Young Eagles program.
“It’s wonderful for building self-esteem, teaches math and science, and there are many, many career opportunities in aviation in dozens of fields.” Dorinda said.
Have you reached a milestone recently? Passed a checkride, given your first or hundredth Young Eagle flight, flown your homebuilt for the first time? Tell us about it at editorial@eaa.org.