Story and photos by Kelly Jeffries, EAA 660759
EAA Chapter 1067 in Naples, Florida, is a very active chapter focused on the future of aviation, and the cornerstone is our Young Eagles rallies held 11 months of the year. There have been six Ray Scholarships awarded through Chapter 1067, and all scholars have earned their private pilot certificate. In a unique partnership with Naples Youth Aviation, experienced mentors from the chapter helped students build and fly a Sling 2. All the kids that were part of NYAP started with a Young Eagles flight. Now, the Sling is used to fly Young Eagles and is flown by one of the kids that built the airplane.
Until 2023, EAA 1067 Young Eagles rallies were flown from Naples, Florida (KAPF), a very busy Class D airport. Long wait times to take off and return to the field hampered our rallies and ability to have a great aviation experience. But a solution presented itself at nearby WingSouth Airpark (FA37). Developed 52 years ago, WingSouth has a large ramp area, ample runway, and, most importantly, a neighborhood that embraced our Young Eagles program.
When my husband and I moved to FA37, we joined Chapter 1067, and I knew that WingSouth would be a better place to fly Young Eagles than Naples., But ultimately it was WingSouth member Ralph Arwood, EAA 522909, who broached the idea of moving our Young Eagles rallies to FA37. “At Naples, sometimes it would take 30 minutes to take off and 30 minutes to land. It wasn’t the ideal situation to fly Young Eagles and limited the number of kids that could get a flight,” he said.
At KAPF, the most we could fly at a Young Eagles rally was 15. At FA37, we can fly more than of 25 kids during a rally, introducing so many more to aviation. In the past eight rallies, we have flown more than 160 kids at FA37. As EAA 1067 President Sean Nash said, “Hosting our events at WingSouth has increased safety dramatically as we don’t need to compete with the jet traffic at APF, have our own controlled ramp, beautiful clubhouse, and it is just simply a cool experience for those who don’t know that airport communities exist.”
WingSouth neighbors opened up their runway, their clubhouse, and their hearts to Young Eagles. It is an inspiration the way the neighborhood has helped the Young Eagles program. Neighbors volunteer to help sponsor the event and some fly the Young Eagles rallies as well. It is through this team that EAA continues to introduce the next generation to flight.