EAA Sport Aviation - August 2009

less. And with that exchange, Scott McDaniels became the ostensible head of what is now called Teen Flight. Scott got the job, not because he sought it or wanted recognition, but because he cares.

Scott grew up in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area. He was given an airplane ride as a Cub Scout and was hooked. He took flying lessons at age 16—worked, scrimped, and saved for them—and received his private pilot certificate at 17. He now flies an RV- 6 (go figure).

Here’s how Scott envisions the program working and developing: Kids come in every other Saturday morning and build an RV- 12, probably about 12 kids to start. And the RV- 12 was chosen because, unlike earlier RVs that are assembled, disassembled, parts cleaned and made, then re-assembled, the RV- 12 is engineered to be assembled and left assembled. The first four Saturdays would require mandatory attendance, with an introduction to the building process, individual learning projects assigned, and development of teams—all essential for what’s to come later. It won’t just be reading a book; it’ll be doing what’s in the book. (That’s a concept I love.) After that, an occasional absence would be permitted because, after all, people have busy lives. But, bottom line, once you start, you are expected to finish.

That’s how you build an airplane!

Now let’s take a look into the future, envisioning, again, a perfect world: Finish the airplane, fly it, take lessons in it, sell it, use the money to pay for another kit, and do it all over again…perhaps this time with teens helping teens. Then, an open house, given by the teens for their parents and mentors. Now document the program—what works and what doesn’t—with a curriculum that can be transferred to other interested locations.

This is Scott thinking way ahead. Ambitious? Sure. So was going to the moon, but we did it.

( ) Awesome flight experience ( ) Excitement that won’t go away ( ) Flying an airplane yourself.... We can help with that.

Sporty’s Pilot Shop and EAA want to help move Young Eagles from the right seat to the left seat and achieve the dream of becoming a pilot. This online course is the perfect way to help young people get started with flight training and prepares them to take all three FAA tests required for a pilot certificate.