Young Eagles Milestones: Passing a Checkride and Notching No. 400

November 14, 2013 - Four years ago, Charlie Anderson, 18, of EAA Chapter 745 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, went on a Young Eagles flight and was immediately hooked on aviation, says his father, Peter, EAA 1024029. That certainly was the case, as he successfully passed his checkride on October 7 and is now a private pilot.

"Were it not for Young Eagles, this family would never have followed this path," Peter wrote to EAA. "Thank you all for this program and for changing lives and helping kids to see opportunities that they would only have dreamed of."

Charlie, who was featured in EAA's 2012 Young Eagles yearbook, will continue his dream of an aviation career when he enrolls in the aviation program at Mankato State University next year.

Meanwhile Larry Schaefer, EAA 655663, of Freedom, Pennsylvania, proudly reports his 400th Young Eagle flown, occurring September 15 at Butler County Airport. He flew Frankie Eskra in a Cessna 172. Congratulations, Larry, and here's hoping Frankie becomes "hooked" as Charlie did.