Young Eagles Mission 2.5 – The Final Stretch

International Young Eagles Day is Saturday, June 13, 2026 — and it’s the perfect opportunity to support Young Eagles Mission 2.5, EAA’s challenge to reach 2.5 million Young Eagles flown by EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026.

Two special incentives are currently in place to support Mission 2.5:

• Fly 25 for 2.5 – Volunteer pilots who fly 25 or more Young Eagles between October 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, will earn a commemorative cap courtesy of Sporty’s.
  
  
• Pilot the Mission – Chapters are encouraged to recruit new volunteer Young Eagles pilots. For every first-time Young Eagles pilot from January 1-July 31, 2026, the sponsoring chapter will earn $25 in additional Young Eagles Credits.

Mission 2.5 is about more than just a number – 2.5 million Young Eagles is symbolic. It represents:

• 34 years of dedicated volunteer effort to introduce youths to the magic of flight.
• Tens of thousands of former Young Eagles who chose to pursue aviation thanks to their first flight.
• A strong future for the Young Eagles program, built on the passion and commitment of legacy volunteers

Get Your Chapter Involved

Without the EAA chapter network, the Young Eagles program would have stalled out within the first few years of that first Young Eagles flight in 1992. Thanks to the support of EAA chapters, the program reached the goal of flying one million youths by fall of 2003, a few months prior to the goal of December 17, 2003, in recognition of the centennial of flight.

If the Young Eagles program is to accomplish Mission 2.5 and thrive for decades to come, it will once again be due to the support of EAA chapters.

Get Your Chapter Involved in Mission 2.5

• Boost your Chapter’s Rally Schedule – Historically, many chapters took pride in hosting large Young Eagles rallies. But more chapters are now intentionally scaling back the size of individual events to reduce volunteer burnout and create a more meaningful, higher‑quality experience for the youths. The online registration tool makes this easier by allowing chapters to manage attendance and tailor events to their volunteer capacity.
  
  These more focused rallies benefit everyone: volunteers, parents, and especially the kids. And because they’re less exhausting to run, they open the door for chapters to host additional events throughout the year. Instead of one long, overwhelming rally day, chapters can schedule multiple right‑sized rallies that better match volunteer availability and pilot participation.
  
  Many chapters are adopting a “smaller but more frequent” model. This spreads the workload over time, gives pilots flexibility to choose which events they can support, and ensures that more youths have the opportunity to fly.
  
  For example: My local EAA Chapter 252 previously hosted two large rallies each year — one in April and one in September. With the ability to limit preregistration, the chapter now hosts an event on International Young Eagles Day plus two smaller, private events in the spring and fall. While the main rallies are slightly smaller, the overall experience is significantly better, and volunteers can more easily participate in the events that fit their schedules

• Recruit More Volunteer Pilots – Volunteer pilots are the heart of the Young Eagles program. To remain the world leader in youth aviation outreach, the program must continually grow its pilot base. Each year, approximately 1,000 volunteer pilots retire or step away from flying Young Eagles. That means EAA must recruit roughly 1,000 new pilots annually just to maintain current capacity.
  
  Your chapter plays a vital role in building this pipeline. Chapter‑hosted rallies offer a structured, well‑organized environment that makes volunteering easy. Because the chapter handles registration, airport coordination, certificates, and logistics, pilots can simply show up, fly, and be the hero of the day.
  
  Talk to any current volunteer pilot and you’ll hear the same thing: they enjoy the flights every bit as much as the kids — sometimes even more. There’s something uniquely rewarding about sharing the magic of flight and watching that spark ignite in the next generation.

Becoming a Young Eagles Pilots

Whether you are the one looking to become a volunteer pilot, or your chapter needs to recruit new pilots, it is easier than ever to become a volunteer Young Eagles pilot. EAA recently revamped the online registration tool, simplifying the process and offering printable waivers and certificates for both individual pilot flights and Young Eagles rallies.

Five Steps to Becoming a Young Eagles Pilot

1. Be a current EAA member.
2. Complete EAA’s Youth Protection Policy.
3. Participate in a chapter-hosted Young Eagles rally OR conduct an individual pilot flight.
4. Ensure you meet all the pilot requirements (be legal to carry passengers, fly an airworthy aircraft, and have passenger liability insurance of $100,000 per seat), and follow the Young Eagle flight guidelines.
5. Complete a Young Eagles registration form/waiver before the flight, signed by you and a parent or legal guardian.

Full details on how to become a volunteer Young Eagles pilot can be found at EAA.org/YEPilots.

Volunteer Pilot Fun Facts

• Sport pilots and private pilots (and above) are eligible to participate.
• EAA provides an additional $1,000,000 of excess liability for all qualified pilots.
• Volunteer pilots do not need to be chapter members to fly Young Eagles — though joining your local chapter makes the experience even more rewarding.

By committing to support the Young Eagles program, you will join the ranks of 50,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting the future of aviation. Remember, all it takes is one flight to forever change the course of a young person’s life.

To get started, visit EAA.org/YoungEagles.