Royal Victorian Aero Club - Young Eagles

Young Eagles 

Young Eagles Logo

The Young Eagles Victoria is an initiative of the
Royal Victorian Aero Club
to introduce young people into the world of aviation.

The Young Eagles Victoria is a unique way of introducing
young people to the exhilaration and freedom of flight
and is dedicated to providing a motivational aviation
experience for the younger generation.

(Download a registration form from the left navigation)

Introduction

This program has been established to provide a meaningful flight experience for young Victorians (boys and girls) between the ages of 12 and 17 who are the future of aviation in this country.  It is expected that each applicant will already have some form or sort of general interest in aviation or aeroplanes. 

For a great number of people Flying has been a distant dream or simply an unattainable ambition. Whether you dare to dream or dream to dare, with a little dedication and careful application anybody can achieve the dream of flight. No matter whether you want to gain a fulfilling and rewarding hobby or begin the steps to a successful career, RVAC can start you off, on a voyage to discover general aviation and "flying for fun".

Our Patron

The Royal Victorian Aero Club is delighted to have The RAAF Roulettes as the Patron of our Young Eagles Victoria program. We look forward to spending time with the members of one of the most elite military aerobatic teams in the world. You too can share the experience when being involved on one of our days.

 

The Roulettes are the Royal Australian Air Force's elite formation aerobatic display team that showcase Air Force flying skills to the Australian public. Team members are flying instructors at the Air Force's Central Flying School. The Roulettes currently fly Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft, however, the history of Air Force aerobatic teams dates back to well before the introduction of the PC-9/A.

Click here for more information on the Roulettes
       

Requirements

The program is open to boys and girls aged 12 - 17 years. Children who belong to the Air Training Corps or Air Cadets, or make aeroplane models, or fly flight-sim programs or have shown some sort of interest in Aviation either at school or at home are especially encouraged to apply.  Children who are just keen to experience "something new" will certainly also be considered as demand and bookings allow.  Those children completing any Scouting Merit Badge programs and Aviation Explorers badge work are also very welcome to join in.
 

A similar program exists in the USA and over one million high school students have experienced aviation from the cockpit.  Our program is similar to the USA program and is aimed to bring the excitement of flight to a wide variety of “Young Victorians” who may at some stage in the future turn to aviation as career or as a rewarding pastime.

Your child will experience a flight that will give new perspectives on the world of aviation and life in general.

Each year more than 5,000 people in the Australia take flying lessons to learn how to fly general aviation aircraft. When asked why they want to learn to fly, most say, "because flying is fun." Some of the people who learn to fly are salespeople who want to expand their business territories or medical professionals who need to reach patients in remote areas. Others fly for recreation, like going on vacation. Some people who learn to fly are teenagers getting a head start on a professional piloting career.

One of our first Young Eagles was 16 year old Sarah, a Year 10 student at Mentone Girls' Secondary College.  Sarah said the sensation of flying is "like being free" and she intends to include an aviation subject in future electives.  Her pilot on the day was Geoff Colquhoun from Dingley.  Geoff's father was also a pilot at RVAC and a RAAF pilot also.

Sarah

Sarah

Sarah is about to learn how to check the oil in the engine.

All strapped in and ready to go, for a quick fly around the city.

Costs: 

Nil:  "Air Experience Flights" of around 20-25 minutes are provided free of charge to the child through the generosity of RVAC club members. There's no obligation and you won't be asked to buy lessons or to sign up for anything.

Consent:

A parent /s (or guardian) must attend on the day, they are welcome to sit in on all of the program and we encourage their input and questions at all times.  When it is time to go flying, the parent (or guardian) will be required to sign one of standard registration / consent forms.  (See Gold Menu LHS).  All flights will be in fully CASA registered and insured training aircraft, flown by a fully licensed club approved pilot.  The club owns and operates more than 15 of these approved aircraft.  If the weather is unsuitable on the day, you will be given another day to visit and enjoy "your first flight"   Only gentle turns (standard manoeuvres) are performed throughout the flight.

The Program:

These “Air Experience Days” will operate every 4 to 6 weeks as bookings demand.  Time Required:  About 2-3 hours.

On arrival: There will be a short introduction on the RVAC and its 80 year history by the Eagle Facilitator.  Then you'll learn a little about the physical and written requirements, the training costs, and the time it takes for flying lessons.  You see how much fun flying is, and how easy it is to learn. Although nothing is mind-boggling or mysterious about flying, there is much to learn -- just as there is in learning to drive a car. As you learn to fly step by step, you'll find your training enjoyable and not too challenging.  You can earn your Pilots licence and be sharing airspace with Jumbo's all before your 18th birthday.

What Career Options Exist?

Learning to fly a general aviation aeroplane opens the door to a wide variety of career opportunities. Most obvious is becoming a professional pilot for one of the many commercial flying services -- major airline, regional airline, air charter, military, corporate, overnight mail, small package, and cargo. Pilots are needed for the many special missions of general aviation -- emergency medical evacuation, agricultural work, law enforcement, newsgathering, aerial surveying, photography, and a multitude of industrial purposes. Flying may also complement your career path in business or sales, or a profession that you haven't even chosen yet.

There are many careers in the aviation industry in which the skill and knowledge you gain as a pilot is a special asset, even though daily flying is not a part of your job. These careers include air traffic control, aeronautical science, electronics, and aviation safety; air carrier operations, airport, and general aviation operations management; flight navigation, communications, and maintenance; engineering, law, medicine, finance, and insurance. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination because general aviation touches many facets of our lives. As a pilot, you speak the language of aviation.

Your First Flight......  a day to remember.

After the 45 minute briefing you will meet your pilot and he/she will;

 

- Tell you about the aeroplane and the flight you're going to do... (and what not to touch!)
- Review the aeronautical chart and help in identifying reference points you will look for during the flight;
- Complete a careful "walk around" pre-flight inspection of the aeroplane and identifying the parts that control the aeroplane to you;
- Help you buckle your seatbelt and describe the interior of the aeroplane, including the instrument panel and controls.

Once airborne, you'll see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way and experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many only dream about.

We will attempt to take your picture with your Pilot also. After start-up you'll taxi out to the duty runway and take-off.  Perhaps a flight around the bottom end of the city would be great.

As all of this is happening, you may say to yourself, "This is great, but how will I ever learn to do all of this?" Remember that, at one time, your pilot, every airline pilot, and even astronauts were sitting where you are now.

After landing, your pilot will answer any further questions and take you back inside to the facilitator for a quick wrap-up and to answer any last minute questions.

Start them flying!

Wouldn't you like to give your child the chance to experience and open their eyes to the endless possibilities of aviation?   Have they ever wondered what it feels like to lift off the ground in a private aeroplane? Or what your neighbourhood looks like from the sky? How many times have you and your child seen aeroplanes soaring in the sky and wished you could be playing in the clouds too? To all those who have ever dreamed of flying, you’ve landed at the right place.

The mission of the RVAC Young Eagles Program is to provide a motivational aviation experience, focusing on a demonstration flight in an aeroplane. These flights are provided free of charge! It is our hope your child will share in the exhilaration and freedom of flight just as their pilot, whose life has been positively influenced by aviation, has done. The hope is that the experience will spark a young person's curiosity to learn more about aviation. A Young Eagle will also come to see and understand - as seen above through the eyes of an eagle - that the true potential of life lies beyond everyday surroundings and may be reached through the pursuit of high personal goals.

Let's share it, "The Gift of Flight"

And finally:

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. — Leonardo da Vinci

Teachers Notes:

All across the country, parents and teachers are finding that aviation is an interesting and enjoyable way to expose children to virtually every topic, from social studies to math, from science to reading, from history to language arts. Students can relate aviation to "real life" and current events.

Many schools are finding that their aviation and aerospace programs are outstanding student motivators, especially at the high school level. Group projects like building an aeroplane or glider and field trips to the airport and air traffic control tower motivate and interest young people. Although the majority will not go on to become pilots, many go on to careers they discovered during an aviation curriculum. Most gratifying, however, is the enjoyable learning of all subjects that takes place through teaching aviation.

Your Future Awaits in Tomorrow's World of Aviation and Technology!
 

Sponsors:

The club pilots pay for the flights themselves. The following corporations and companies are helping with deferring organisational and promotional costs.

Visit them here to find out more....