Brandon Rakes, Airport Operations Manager and President of the Experimental Aircraft Association, points to an emblem on the propeller of his 1968 Piper Cherokee airplane Wednesday afternoon at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport.
A 1968 Piper Cherokee airplane sits in a hangar Wednesday afternoon at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport.
While crowds turn out downtown next month for ChehalisFest, some youngsters will be taking to the skies for free plane rides above the festivities.
The rides will be offered by the Young Eagles Program, an annual tradition put on across the country by the Experimental Aircraft Association.
“When you hear those kids and see the smiles, it’s very rewarding,” said Brandon Rakes, the president of the local EAA Chapter 609. Rakes is also the aircraft operations coordinator at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport. “The only thing better than flying an airplane is sharing the experience.”
Last year, the local group broke its Young Eagles record, shuttling 175 kids into the sky. They’re hoping even more turn out on July 28. About a dozen local and regional pilots will turn out to volunteer their time and aircraft, contributing to the group’s effort to get youth interested in aviation.
Nationwide, the Young Eagles program has flown more than 2 million kids since it started in 1992.
“One thing I’ve found about the aviation community is how supportive it is,” said Rakes. “What [Young Eagles] is designed to do is take someone and get them interested. … What kid doesn’t like flying?”
The July 28 event will start at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport at 9 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. There’s no need to sign up in advance, but Rakes said all kids need to show up with their parent or legal guardian. There may be a bit of a wait for some rides, he advised. Young Eagles accepts kids between the ages of 8 and 17.
“We view the Young Eagles program as a way to inspire future generations to get into aviation,” Rakes said.
Locally, EAA members meet monthly, often hearing from guest speakers who work in the aviation industry or have had notable careers in the cockpit. The group also organizes flyouts, social events where local pilots take their aircraft to an agreed-upon destination, then spend time together taking in the area before returning.
The EAA was founded by individuals who were passionate about building their own planes, but now includes aviation enthusiasts of all types, including those with vintage and contemporary manufactured aircraft.
“It’s just a good social group where we all get to share the love of aviation,” Rakes said.
He noted that this area is a gem for aviators. Once aloft, the region offers views of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, with the Puget Sound and Seattle visible to the north. On a clear day, pilots can make out the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. In a plane, locals can reach the Oregon coast, the San Juan Islands or the mountains in an hour.
“An airplane is a time machine,” Rakes said.
That experience is something Rakes and his group are excited to share, even if the Young Eagles flights only last 15 minutes. Hopefully, he says, that quarter-hour will spur a lifelong love of aviation in the kids who take off from Chehalis in July.
