By Bruce Hood, Newsletter Editor, EAA Chapter 91 and Chris St. Germain, Young Eagles Coordinator and Vice President, EAA Chapter 91
When EAA Chapter 91 concluded its 2022 Young Eagles season on October 15, it had an interesting occurrence. In our Kansas City area, the best flying weather tends to be right around this time of the year, and the morning was promising. Our typical monthly events feature a great breakfast open to all, and a Young Eagles rally that hosts about 60 kids and 15-plus aviators. This month saw two pilots fly Young Eagles for the first time. They are both 19 years old, and had been frequent Young Eagles themselves.
Ashton Sterk, EAA 1494094, started coming to Chapter 91 Young Eagles rallies as a 9-year-old and took at least 26 flights with the chapter. We had an inkling that he just might like this flying thing! Indeed, Ashton is currently a freshman in the Professional Pilot program at the University of Central Missouri, whose respected curriculum offers aviation safety, airport management, and other aviation degrees. He began the program as a private pilot and is currently working on his instrument rating.
Also flying his first Young Eagles was Ryan Flores, EAA 1256478, who came to the chapter just a few months ago. Ryan’s family transferred to the Kansas City area from San Diego where he and his father, Pedro, were active with Chapter 14. Chapter 14 hated to see the Flores family leave, but Chapter 91 is happy to be their new home. The World’s Largest Logbook shows Ryan making 24 flights with Chapter 14, so it appeared he had the same flying disease as Ashton! Ryan was Chapter 14’s first Ray scholar, earning his private pilot certificate at 17 years old. Once in Kansas City, Ryan wasted no time getting checked out at a local flight school and learning the airports and airspace of the Kansas City area.
We’ve all heard the expression, “It’s a small world,” and in aviation, that world is even smaller. For example, another former Young Eagle of Chapter 91 is Greg Bradbury, now Capt. Bradbury, who flies a KC-130 tanker for the U.S. Marines. Chapter 91’s meeting room has a U.S. flag mounted on the wall, a gift from Capt. Bradbury as thanks for our early aviation support. Greg took numerous Young Eagles flights with Chris St. Germain, EAA 443948, always bringing a different friend along with him. It was obvious Greg had that aviation passion, and the chapter sponsored him to Air Academy twice. Greg stayed in touch with Chris as he earned his private certificate, attended a service academy, and during military training and deployments. Greg and his wife have four children and are currently stationed in San Diego. Do you see where this is heading? Greg contacted Chris asking how to get his two oldest kids a Young Eagles flight. Chris pointed him to the Young Eagles Day website, and in 10 minutes they were signed up. Greg later reported that the kids had a great time, and perhaps that event rekindled the Young Eagles spark in him. Greg soon asked about being a Young Eagles pilot, and Chris advised him on that. Greg flew his first Young Eagles a week after Ashton and Ryan, but at Brown Field with — guess who — Chapter 14! Yes, a small world!
It’s fascinating how Young Eagles has come full circle, and it’s gratifying to see the initial vision for the program has materialized, generating new younger members of the aviation community. These young aviators have an infectious enthusiasm, and the future of aviation is bright, thanks to the Young Eagles program!