Special to the News-Sun
SEBRING -- EAA Chapter 1240 had extra reason to celebrate at their monthly pancake breakfast this past weekend.
The Experimental Aircraft Association, known in the aviation community as EAA, was founded in 1953 and is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Each summer Oshkosh is the home of the World's largest Fly-in Convention, AirVenture.
On Saturday, EAA Chapter 1240, on behalf of the Young Eagles, accepted a $1,500 check presented by the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo during the monthly pancake breakfast. These funds, raised by an aircraft auction held during the 8th annual Expo this past January, will be used towards the building fund of local EAA Chapter 1240 and the Young Eagles.
Sebring's local EAA Chapter 1240 is very involved in youth aviation education, and place their major focus on the EAA Young Eagles program. Young Eagles is designed to give young people their first experience in flight in a small aircraft. Since its inception in 1992, an estimated 1.6 million Young Eagles have experienced their first flight through this program. Members of the local EAA Chapter 1240 make this happen by using their own airplanes, normally supported with free fuel by the Sebring Regional Airport, to take youngsters on their first flight. To date, over the past few years, hundreds of local young people have been introduced to aviation.
Local EAA Chapter 1240 normally sponsors two dedicated days each year to taking young people for their first flight. Additionally, the second Saturday of each month the Sebring Regional Airport hosts a pancake breakfast and local EAA Chapter 1240 uses the morning to also give flights for young and upcoming aviation enthusiast. Chapter 1240 currently operates out of a hangar provided by the Sebring Regional Airport, and for some time has sought to construct a dedicated building for this purpose.
At the AvBid Aircaft Auction, John Leenhouse, incoming President of Sun 'N Fun in Lakeland, outlasted all other bidders to take home a Garmin 756 with the funds forwarded to the local Young Eagles Chapter.
Friday, February 17, 2012 - www.newssun.com/021712-EAA