Willis “Trip” Gregory with a group of Young Eagles It may not take but one trip in an airplane to become hooked on flying. That’s what the sponsors of Young Eagles believe, and they back up their conviction with action. As a consequence, hundreds of youngsters in the Midlands have had the thrill of a trip in a private plane.

At Jim Hamilton Owens Field, local pilots share their love of aviation by offering, once every month, an opportunity for boys and girls ages 9 to 17 a free half–hour flight over the Midlands of South Carolina.

“Trip” Gregory has been involved with Young Eagles since 2005. He’s seen the excitement in the eyes of the youngsters he takes aloft.

“There’s nothing like flying over Columbia with a youngster who has never been in a plane before,” he says. “Many of these children would never have a chance to fly without the Young Eagles program. It’s a thrill for them and for the pilots also.”

Willis “Trip” Gregory served in the Air Force during the Viet Nam era, and in Air Traffic Control. He has been piloting a private plane since 2001, and involved with Young Eagles since 2005.

He describes the Young Eagles routine (which is anything but routine for novices): each student accompanies the pilot on a 10–minute pre–flight walkaround, checking all the safety and mechanical functions for security; during the flight, the front–seat passenger gets a hands–on experience with the controls, a few brief moments in charge; after the flight, a computer simulation on a laptop earns the youth a certificate along with his undying memory of his first air travel.

Parents are welcome in the program along with their children, and if time and space permit, they too get a ride over town.

Young Eagles has been active since 1992. Headquartered in Oshkosh WI, it set a goal of flying one million children in time for the 2003 anniversary of flight. That goal was achieved on schedule; currently, 1.4 million Young Eagles have been registered. The new goal: to introduce 100,000 children to aviation each year.

Ron Shelton is co-ordinator of the local Young Eagles chapter. He can be reached at 609-1115. For more information from headquarters,visit www.youngeagles.org or call toll–free 877-806-8902.