Last chance to register for Young Eagles flights at La Grande Airport

Union County families faced a one-day registration window for the Spring Young Eagles Flight Rally at La Grande Airport, a May 19 event that offered youth ages 8 to 17 a free introductory flight and a close-up look at general aviation.

The Young Eagles program, launched by the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1992, is built around volunteer pilots who donate their time and aircraft to give children a first flight at no cost. EAA describes it as the world’s leading youth aviation opportunity, and says more than 2 million young people have flown through the program since it began.

For La Grande and the rest of Union County, the value of that kind of outreach goes beyond a pleasant ride over town. Airports can feel remote or technical to families who do not spend much time around airplanes, but a Young Eagles rally makes La Grande Airport a place where children can ask questions, watch local pilots at work and picture aviation as something they could actually pursue. The event also put a familiar civic space to use in a way that was both educational and accessible.

Registration was required, which meant families needed to act quickly if they wanted a spot. That urgency mattered because the flights were free and the opportunity was limited to youth in the program’s age range. For parents looking for a low-barrier way to introduce a child to science, flight and hands-on learning, the rally offered exactly that.

Young Eagles has long been framed as more than a novelty. The program is designed to spark curiosity and open a path toward aviation training and career interests, with EAA member volunteers making the flights possible. In a county where access to specialized opportunities can be limited by distance and cost, a free flight at La Grande Airport stood out as a practical entry point for the next generation of pilots, engineers and aviation workers.