"Young Eagles learn how to soar"
"Cortez 4 Corners Flyers holds flight rally at Cortez Municipal Airport"

Emily Ketterer
Journal High School Intern
Cortez Journal Newspaper
11/11/2008

If you looked up at the sky Nov. 1 and saw a little white or long yellow plane, you might have seen participants in the fifth official Young Eagles Flight Rally held at Cortez Municipal Airport.

When the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter started last year, it was founded by a pilot who has been flying for more than 30 years and at least once a week, Noel Boykin.

Boykin is president of Cortez 4 Corners Flyers, which hosted the rally.

Pilot Skip Lange gives Christopher Vanik, 15, a few instructions before taking off Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Cortez Municipal Airport. “This is a great opportunity to let the kids get up there and fly the airplane, ... and they all do a good job,” Lange said.

Photo from the Cortez Journal/Steve Lewis

Twelve youths between the ages of 7 and 17 flew at the Nov. 1 Young Eagles Flight Rally. The youths who go up receive an explanation of the flights and even have the option to take the controls briefly, according to Boykin's wife, Robin.

"He gives them introduction to flight," she said.

Julia Whelihan said her son Easton LaChappelle, who has gone up with the group twice, "just loves to fly."

LaChappelle said it was amazing that the pilots give up their time and gas to do this for participants.

"And make their dreams come true," he said at the Nov. 1 rally.

"It's fun, it's cool," said Levi Noyes, 13, who is thinking about being a pilot and who had just completed a flight.

"I wanted my daughter to experience flying," said Cindee Gapp, who brought her daughter to go flying for the first time. Gapp said the event was a good idea for people living in a small town to experience.

One goal of the flights is to give youths a chance to fly, and another is to get youths interesting in flying, according to Boykin. Interest in aviation has dropped, he said.

During the flights, youths can fly above their houses, from Cortez to Pleasant View, and were given some basics of flying such as aerodynamics and other aircraft-related topics.

About 1.4 million youths have participated in the Young Eagle rallies, which are held nationwide, according to Boykin. He has flown more than 100 flights for the Young Eagles group, 30 of which have been for the Cortez chapter.

"We like giving young kids rides," the pilot said.

Pilot Skip Lange, a member of Chapter 1451 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, takes a young passenger up in the aircraft he describes as a twin-engine pusher on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Cortez Municipal Airport. “This is one of our missions, to give young kids rides and make them friendly to aviation,” said Noel Boykin, chapter president.

Photo from the Cortez Journal/Steve Lewis

The 4 Corners Flyers has 21 members, and three flew with youths on the Nov. 1 Young Eagles Flight Rally. The goal for next year will be 100 Young Eagles flights for the Cortez chapter, Boykin said. The next official rally will be held in spring 2009.

The 4 Corners Flyers started in spring of 2007 and is chapter 1451 of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Pilots who are members of the chapter are private pilots and have their own planes.

Small flights like the ones that were held at the rally are available for first time Young Eagles youths only, ages 7 through 17, by contacting Boykin or Skip Lange, the Young Eagles chairman in Cortez.

"I'll do it anytime," Boykin said.

On the Net:
4 Corners Flyers, www.cortezeaa1451.org/home.htm.

Reach Emily Ketterer at emilyk@cortezjournal.com.

Reprinted with permission from the Cortez Journal.