Graham: 2.5 Millionth Young Eagle ‘Has the Aviation Bug’
By Barbara A. Schmitz
Jimmy Graham may have been joking after taking 10-year-old Hazel Schaefer, of Wausau, Wisconsin, on a flight in his Extra 330 on Wednesday, making her the official 2.5 millionth Young Eagle since the program began.
But once you hear of Hazel’s passion for aviation, you have to wonder if Jimmy, the Young Eagles chairman since 2018 and NFL retired tight end, was joking at all when he said Hazel would be taking him flying soon.
The flight in Jimmy’s Extra 330 was the 43rd different type of airplane that Hazel has flown in. (Her favorite flight was in the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, a classic German biplane trainer introduced in the 1930s, but she said Jimmy’s Extra is “near the top” of her list of favorite airplanes she’s taken a flight in.) At 10, she already has over 40 hours of flight time with “many, many pilot friends.”
So how did Jimmy fly? “Very good,” she replied, admitting that she was “a little bit nervous, but it was awesome.”
Wearing her own flight suit, Hazel said she became interested in aviation through her mother, Jessica, who shared her passion with her children. Hazel is active in EAA Chapter 640 in Wausau and volunteers with the group, helping out with food at events. She is also involved in Learn Build Fly, an aerospace education program in Wausau that provides aviation, STEM, and leadership education to youths and families.
Jimmy said Hazel made a great co-pilot and that he hoped to fly with her again. “She has the aviation bug,” he said.
“When I see a smile on a child’s face after their flight, it reminds me of how I was at that age,” he said. “I wish I had this type of experience when I was young.”
He also said it was an honor to be involved in the Young Eagles program, and that EAA has “a special place in his heart” for the work they do.
After a photo of Jimmy, Hazel, and some Young Eagles volunteers was taken, Jimmy shook hands and talked to many of the volunteers.
When Young Eagles began, some people questioned if they could meet their goal of flying 1 million children using volunteer pilots. But with each new goal set, EAA continues to hit that target.
Making the 2.5 million mark in 2026 was an “ambitious goal,” Jimmy said, only possible because of the “many EAA volunteers who really made a push over the last two months.” Still, he said he was looking forward to flying the 3 millionth Young Eagle in the not-too-distant future, and that flying “has filled the gaps” that football left.
Anyone wanting to become involved in the Young Eagles program is encouraged to stop by the Blue Barn to learn more. Jimmy encouraged younger pilots to also get involved, saying many youths will likely connect better to someone closer to their age.
Caption: Hazel Schaefer, 10, of Wausau, Wisconsin, became EAA’s official 2.5 millionth Young Eagle after a flight with Jimmy Graham in his Extra 330 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Wednesday.
