WEST CREEK – The thrill of seeing Long Beach Island from 1,000 feet above the ground became a reality for 93 young people who participated in Young Eagles flights.
Eagles Nest Airport hosted the free flights offered to children between the ages of 8 and 17 in conjunction with its open house. The US Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program strives to bring the joy of aviation to local youth.
“Seven pilots gave their time and fuel to take the kids up this week alone,” said Kurt Stofko, organizer of the Ocean County Young Eagles program. “We also fly out of Ocean County Airport and the pilots go from there to Seaside so the kids can see all the amusements.”
Stofko said the engines are shut down and the propellers are not turning when the children are first led to the planes. In most cases, it’s just the pilot and three student passengers aboard for the flights that last between 15 and 20 minutes.
“We guide the children to the plane and the pilot first talks about safety,” Stofko said. “We also have a couple of young people that go around and talk about the airplane.”
Participants become engaged in the pre-flight check and have the opportunity to ask questions before take-off. They all receive a certificate and log book at the completion of the trip.
The pilots who volunteer their time all do a good job of reassuring the kids and making them feel at ease. Many wish they’d had the opportunity to participate in something like the Young Eagles program in their youth.
With thirty years as a teacher in the Barnegat school district, Stofko appears to be perfectly suited in leading the local Young Eagles chapter. He’s combined a couple of his passions in doing so and his followers appreciate him.
“Kurt’s pretty chill and great to work with,” said Michael Randall, 16, who will be entering his junior year at Southern Regional High School this fall.
Michael first learned about the Young Eagles when he was a Boy Scout and attended a fair in 2018. Stofko was at the event and distributed information about the program.
In addition to offering young people the opportunity to experience a flight on a small plane, the Young Eagles program allows kids the chance to learn more about how planes work.
“We did amazing things, which started with using videos like an online flight school,” Michael said. “We used a website that gave us charts, taught us about different departures, and all the nomenclature associated with aircraft.”
Prior to COVID shutting down many activities, Michael was helping Stofko build a plane. The Pientpol aircraft project requires a great deal of dedication and time. It’s been put on hold for now.
The work involved includes building all the structure and covering it with fabric. The next step involves rebuilding an engine.
“It’s something I really enjoyed doing,” shared Michael. “I’m hoping we go back to it once everything is up and running again.”
Michael flew with the Young Eagles program for the first time in 2019. He continues to love the world of aviation and would love to go for his private pilot’s license – although he recognizes the cost as prohibitive.
Last weekend, Michael had the chance to go up in the air again. He could not have been more ecstatic things were coming back together.
The Young Eagles offers free flights to children ages 8-17 four times a year.
