Young Eagles

Servant Air Ministries
Florida Chapter of Pilots for Christ

Young Eagles

SAMI joins with EAA to provide flights for Young Eagles
Hosted at Merritt Island Airport, Florida, USA
[06.09.2007]

^{^{Photos by Florida Today [06.09.2007]

(http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706100352)}}

^{Alex DeMaeyer holds a Young Eagles Flight certificate after
enjoying a ride from Dick Blondin in SAMI's 172}

More than 100 children were given rides in various airplanes at the semi-annual EAA Young Eagles day held on Saturday, June 9th, 2007 at the Merritt Island Airport. SAMI is pleased to be a partner with the EAA Young Eagles program, introducing kids to the joys of flying and sparking an interest in aviation at a young age. Flights last approximately 20 minutes, taking the young passengers for a joy ride over Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral and back to the Merritt Island airport.

It is SAMI's hope and prayer that kids and adults alike can see the advantages of providing air transportation for ministry purposes. SAMI also participates in providing Young Eagles flights for the simple enjoyment of seeing a child's face light up when they take flight.

The Young Eagles flights were piloted by Dr. Bob Lehton, Dick Todd and Dick Blondin using Servant Air's Cessna 172. Dick Todd flew 30 young eagles, Dick Blondin 21, followed by Dr. Bob Lehton taking to the skies with 9 youngsters. Dedicated SAMI and EAA pilots stayed over 2 hours after the official event end time to ensure eager youngsters got to see Florida's Space Coast from the air.