Aviation Legend Chuck Yeager Introduces One Millionth EAA Young Eagle at Kitty Hawk
15-year-old from German Valley, Ill., will fly with Gen. Yeager on Dec. 17

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. -- (Dec. 16, 2003) -- Aviation legend Chuck Yeager, who has served as Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program since 1994, today introduced a 15-year-old high school sophomore from German Valley, Ill., as the 1 millionth Young Eagles flown in this all-volunteer effort to open aviation to young people. Andrew Grant, who made his Young Eagles flight with pilot Rick Ellis on Oct. 25, 2003, at Freeport, Ill., will fly with Gen. Yeager on Wednesday, Dec. 17, as the lead aircraft in an afternoon fly-by during the centennial of powered flight. Yeager and Grant were part of a news conference at EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk Pavilion.

"I want to give credit to EAA and all those pilots who gave of their airplanes, fuel and time to reach 1 million Young Eagles," said Gen. Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. "When I was growing up, the military gave me the chance to fly, which I've done for more than 60 years. Today, EAA's Young Eagles are giving kids to learn about flying and what it can mean to their lives."

Yeager also mentioned the many young people he has met while flying more than 200 Young Eagles himself over the past 10 years. He particularly spotlighted his flights with Make-A-Wish Foundation children, who are suffering from serious illnesses.

"To see the joy on their faces when we're flying is a feeling you can't imagine," Yeager said. "It saddens me to know that a year later, some of those kids are no longer with us, but at least we could give them that moment." Grant, who made his first airplane flight on Oct. 25 when he flew with Ellis, said he was excited by the possibility of flying with Gen. Yeager, especially after his grandparents explained Yeager's role in aviation history. "This has been quite an experience already," said Grant, who was joined by his parents and brother for the trip to Kitty Hawk. "I'm really looking forward to flying on Dec. 17 and it's a big honor to be here."

Also participating in the news conference was EAA president Tom Poberezny; Richard Beattie, Executive Vice President of Jaguar Land Rover North America; and Steven McCullough, general manager of Phillips 66 Aviation. Jaguar is the major sponsor of Young Eagles, while ConocoPhillips has been a major supporter through its Phillips 66 aviation fuel rebate program. "We started out with a dream in 1992 to fly 1 million Young Eagles and today we celebrate the realization of that dream," Poberezny said. "We are also proud to state that Young Eagles will continue as an important program within EAA for years to come. This program is making a difference in aviation and especially to the young people it touches." Poberezny also remarked that past participants in the Young Eagles program are enrolled in every major university aviation program in the U.S., as well as each's of the nation's military academies. In addition, Young Eagles have gone on to earn their own pilot's licenses and are flying either professionally or for recreation.

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 1,000 local Chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA's World Wide Web site (www.eaa.org).