Aviation Insider - June 2011

June 11 is EAA International Young Eagles Day
Thousands of young people will take to the sky on Saturday, June 11, as EAA volunteers continue an outstanding aviation tradition – International Young Eagles Day. The annual event brings together kids and pilots as part of the EAA Young Eagles program, the largest youth aviation education program ever created. Nearly 150 events are planned by local EAA chapters during this weekend, not counting the many individual EAA members who will fly Young Eagles independently. Read more

Former Young Eagle Opens a Flight School Travis Morton is a little like the Energizer Bunny. He has kept going and going, earning more and more ratings ever since he attained his private pilot certificate. Now he's opened his own flight school in hopes of sharing his love of flight with others. Travis said he became interested in aviation when he was about 12 after his neighbor, a pilot, recommended he go to the Sonoma Skypark in California for a Young Eagles ride. Read more

Final Mission Accomplished for Endeavour "Welcome home, Endeavour." With that greeting from mission control, space shuttle Endeavour concluded its 25th and final mission early Wednesday morning with a perfect landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the 6.5 million-mile, 16-day STS-134 mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour - the youngest of NASA's space shuttle fleet - flew a total of 122,883,151 miles since 1992, spent 299 days in space, and orbited Earth 4,671 times. Read more and see the landing video

Jetman Flies Above Grand Canyon Forget about watching birds soar above the Grand Canyon. Weeks ago, you could have seen Yves Rossy doing it instead. According to a statement, Yves, known as "Jetman," reached speeds up to 190 mph while flying over the canyon, thanks to four JetCat engines on his back and a 6-1/2-foot wing that he steers by moving his head and arms. Read more

Follow 'Miracle on the Hudson' Airliner as it Completes Flight by Truck The Airbus A320 that landed in the Hudson River in January 2009 after hitting a flock of Canada Geese is on its way to its intended destination. US Air Flight 1549, piloted by Young Eagles Co-Chairmen Sully Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles, hit the geese minutes after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport and had to land in the river after both its engines failed. The aircraft has been in pieces in New Jersey for two years, but now the plane's parts are headed to the Carolinas Aviation Museum at the Charlotte/ Douglas International Airport, where it will eventually be reassembled and put on display. Follow its progress from New Jersey to North Carolina live!	Courtesy: Barbara Boldin-Cowan

Young Eagles Tour Video With Jeff Skiles Jeff Skiles and pilots from EAA Chapter 863 fly Young Eagles and talk about the joy in helping to create the next generation of aviators. Lebanon, Tennessee (M54), was Jeff's second stop on his Young Eagles / Skycatcher tour en route to the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo this spring. Watch Tour Highlight Video \| Watch Lebanon Tour Stop \| Watch New Smyrna Beach Tour Stop

New Roadable Aircraft When landscape architect Rick Johnson, EAA 343934, of Palm City, Florida, was looking for a tougher aircraft building challenge, he thought, "Why not build a roadable aircraft?" I suppose you are wondering, "What the heck is that?" Read more and watch the video

Free EAA Student Membership All Young Eagles under age 18 are eligible for a Free EAA Student Membership, and all you need to do is register. Student membership is full of exciting opportunities just for you - EAA Sport Aviation magazine online, e-newsletters, members-only website, Academy of Model Aeronautics Student Membership, free admission to 300-plus science and technology museums, and more. The membership is made possible by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. If you're not already a member, visit the Young Eagles website to register today.