Young Eagles honor local pilot

Pilot Gary Switzer of Fremont has given more than 100 young people free demonstration airplane rides as a part of the EAA Young Eagles program.

Switzer is one of more than 40,000 pilots around the world who have donated their time and aircraft to the effort. All pilots in the Young Eagles program explain the safe operation of airplanes and principles of flight before the short trips. Participating young people become official Young Eagles with the flight, receiving a certificate signed by the pilot and Young Eagles chairman Harrison Ford.

The Young Eagles Program was unveiled by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in July 1992, and has flown more than 1.25 million young people, primarily between the ages of eight and 17. More information is available online at www.youngeagles.org.