BAY CITY – Free airplane rides will be given to youth, ages 8-17, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 at the Red Wing Municipal Airport, located just north of Bay City on Highway 35.

This opportunity is ouered through the Red Wing chapter of the Oshkosh, Wis.-based Experimental Aircraft Association, and is part of its on-going Young Eagles program which has given rides to over 2 million young people over the last 20 years.

“It is just our way of introducing young people to the joy of personal flight in a light aircraft,” said Paul Steger, one of the dozen or so pilots who regularly make the flights. Steger is a member of the local Chapter 1518 which is sponsoring the event. “What we want parents to understand is that there are no strings attached. We are not going to try to sell you anything or ask for any donations.”

Parents should pre-register by going to yeday.org, put Red Wing’s zip code (55066) into the search bar, and fill out the form. They will also need to sign a waiver which can be done the day of the event.

Several young people who received Young Eagle rides at Red Wing have become hooked on flying and gone on to earn their own pilot licenses, according to Steger. A free online ground school, normally costing hundreds of dollars, is available as part of the flight, to those who are interested.

“There has never been a better time for an aviation career in my lifetime, either as a pilot, or in one of the many support roles in the industry,” said Steger.

The flights are done on a weather-permit ting basis.

Submitted by Chapter 1518, Experimental Aircraft Association