The next step for the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagles will be to develop a group of integrated programs “that not only spark an interest in aviation among young people but build a practical bridge for each young person to continue toward his own aviation goal,” according to Brian O’Lena, EAA’s youth programs manager. Young Eagles, which has flown nearly 1.6 million young people since 1992, has also enrolled more than 5,000 youth in Sporty’s Pilot Shop’s online pilot training course at no charge. After completing this course, students can apply for $1,500 awards and $7,500 scholarships for flight school.

In other EAA news, the association’s new president/CEO, Rod Hightower is participating in numerous activities here at the show. At EAA’s NBAA booth (No. 3246), meanwhile, visitors can use a Cessna 162 Skycatcher simulator to get a taste of the aircraft that will be the grand prize in a sweepstakes at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 next July.