One of the most ambitious goals in general aviation history is about to be achieved. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)’s Young Eagles program — which has been introducing young people aged 8 to 17 to the joy of flight since its debut at AirVenture Oshkosh in 1992 — is within striking distance of flying its 2.5 millionth Young Eagle before this year’s AirVenture in July 2026.
How Close Are They?
As of early March 2026, the programme stood at approximately 25,000 Young Eagles short of the 2.5 million milestone, according to David Leiting, Young Eagles Programme Manager. “This puts us right on target to complete Mission 2.5 in the final lead-up to AirVenture,” Leiting said in a message to volunteer pilots on March 9, 2026.
The path to this milestone has not been entirely smooth. The spring and early summer of 2025 saw nearly double the normal number of cancelled Young Eagles events due to weather. But as is typical of the volunteer pilot community, the response was to make up the deficit in the autumn — and the momentum has carried into 2026.
How to Participate: The Fly 25 for 2.5 Challenge
EAA and Sporty’s Pilot Shop have partnered on a special incentive for the final push. Volunteer pilots who fly 25 or more Young Eagles flights between now and July 31, 2026, will earn a commemorative cap courtesy of Sporty’s. It’s a small recognition of what is genuinely significant volunteer work — each flight represents a child’s potential introduction to a lifetime in aviation.
Participating is straightforward. Any pilot with a current private pilot certificate or higher can volunteer as a Young Eagles pilot through the EAA website at eaa.org/youngeagles. Events are organised by EAA chapters across the country and are typically listed several weeks in advance. Pilots provide their own aircraft — the minimum requirement is a standard category aircraft with at least one working passenger seat.
Why Young Eagles Matters for the Future of Aviation
The Young Eagles programme is more than a feel-good event. Research consistently shows that early positive exposure to aviation is one of the strongest predictors of whether someone pursues a pilot certificate. At a time when the general aviation community is focused on building the pilot pipeline — to support regional and major airlines, flight instruction, corporate aviation and general flying — every Young Eagles flight is an investment in that pipeline.
More than 50,000 pilots have given Young Eagles flights across every continent except Antarctica, in aircraft ranging from hot air balloons to corporate jets. The programme has alumni who have gone on to become airline pilots, military aviators, aerobatic champions and aviation entrepreneurs. Some of those 2.5 million young people will be the CFIs and airline captains of 2040.
