Pilot Bob Weil, from Davenport, provides some instruction to KHS student Mikah Newton, after the pair landed safely at the Kewanee Municipal Airport on Saturday. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

On Saturday, daring youth met with area pilots at the Kewanee Municipal Airport for an opportunity to fly the friendly skies over Kewanee.

The flights were offered, as they are each year, by volunteer pilots with Chapter 75, Iowa-Ill. Quad Cities Experimental Aviation Association (EEA). The free flights are all part of the Young Eagles Day, which provides youth an opportunity, maybe for the first time, to go up in an airplane.

“It allows children to be exposed to private flying,” said Paul Thronson,” who was on hand at the airport to sign up many first-time flyers. Thronson said it’s specially geared towards kids who might not have any other way to gain exposure to flying in a plane.

The hope is that the experience will at least spark the love of flying in a few of the participants, he said.

Five pilots from all over the area, including Davenport and Kewanee, took students up for a short flight, even turning over the controls for a brief time.

Pilot Bob Weil from Davenport flew in to take youth up in his personal airplane. Hitching a ride with Weil was Mikah Newton, a KHS high school student. Newton said the experience was “very cool.”

Although it wasn’t a Girl Scout-sponsored event, girl scout Audrey Massens took her second flight on Saturday with volunteer Kewanee pilot Randy Stisser.

Kewanee pilot, Randy Stisser, took Audrey Massens up in his airplane on Saturday for her second flight. Posing for a photo is, from left, Ann Massens, Audrey and Stisser. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

Massens was there with her mother Ann, and said she would absolutely take another flight.

“It was a very interesting experience being higher up than normal,” said Massens.

Stisser said he has volunteered for at least 15 years with the Young Eagle program and plans to continue to do so.

“I get to fly and meet some nice kids,” he said.

Massens’ mother, Ann, said it’s an amazing opportunity for the area youth.

“I’m thankful to have the volunteer pilots,” she said.

The EAA celebrated the 31st annual International Young Eagles Day over the weekend, and the organization encourages all EAA members and chapters to participate in the one-day event. Young people ages 8-17 were given the opportunity to take a free aircraft ride that introduced them to the world of flight.