Since 2013, Slatington's EAA Chapter 855 has given 200 free airplane rides to children in hopes of sparking an interest in aviation.

"We run the program two times a year, one in the fall and one in the spring," said Eugene Salvatore, pilot and chapter president."We are trying to get young people into aviation," he said of the Young Eagles program.Children between 8 to 17 were flown around the Lehigh sky during the all-day event where they received a log book and certificate after parents registered them for the 20-minute jaunt.Hosted at the Slatington Airport at 1100 Airport Road on Saturday, tables filled with soda, candy and hot dogs were there to enjoy while kids waited for their spin in the single engine plane.Planes sat ready on the runway with Salvatore and airport owner Roger Sell piloting the riders along the flight path around the Bake Oven Knob before returning to the airport."We operate out of Slatington. Roger lets us use the airport as our home base. He is also a member of the chapter," said Salvatore.EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, is an international aviation membership association founded in 1953 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.Local chapters can be found in all 50 states. Members of the nonprofit organization are aviation enthusiasts, including many airline and commercial pilots, engineers, business people and students of all ages.The Young Eagles program was founded in 1992, dedicated to giving children ages 8 to 17 their first ride in an airplane.The sole mission of the unique program is to introduce and inspire kids to join in the world of aviation.As of 2016, the Young Eagles program has flown nearly 2 million kids with the help of EAA's network of volunteer pilots.Lexi and John Boyko arrived at the airport with their parents to celebrate Lexi's upcoming 12th birthday with a ride in of the single engine planes. Both children buzzed with excitement while they were instructed on how to put on head sets before climbing into a two-seat cockpit."It was fun," said Lexi upon landing."I was scared because I've never flown before but it was really fun," said the soon-to-be 12-year-old girl."Landing was really calm. You bump at first but then it smooths out. I was in the front seat so I got to see everything. I really liked it," she said."Every kid should get a chance to fly cause it's amazing."Her brother could barely contain his excitement as he hopped from the plane."I flew the plane," he exclaimed. "I made a circle all over the sky."The EAA will host its second Young Eagles day in the fall. For more information visit EAA Chapter 855 Facebook page.