IDAHO PILOT TO CROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CARIBBEAN, SPARKING YOUTH INTEREST IN FLIGHT

Apr 28/05

Boise, ID- Boise pilot Jared Aicher (pronounced “acre”) begins an ambitious journey on May 28^th, 2005. The 33-year old plans to make stops in close to 60 cities in each of the 48 lower United States and in the Caribbean, offering free flights to youth in association with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles  program.  The project, known as “The Eagle Flight”, was created in 2004 as a non-profit organization dedicated to instilling the spirit of exploration through aviation to youth around the world. Aicher says, “Many children's dreams of flight are never realized due to the high costs of operating an aircraft or a lack of local resources to spark an interest in aviation.  The goal of The Eagle Flight is to help children around the world realize their dreams of flight, get them into the cockpit, and register each one as a Young Eagle member.”

The Eagle Flight project is a two-part journey. During Phase I in the summer of 2005, Jared will be flying a 4-passenger Cessna 172 provided by West Mesa Aviation of Albuquerque, NM. In 2006, Phase II continues the mission of the The Eagle Flight on a global scale, with Aicher undertaking a solo flight around the world.

During Phase I, representatives from Utah Valley State College will fly along with the Eagle Flight team promoting the EAA's Aeroscholars program at each stop.  This program allows high school students to take aviation related electives and receive college credit while doing so. 

While en route, The Eagle Flight’s website will be updated daily, allowing participants as well as those interested in the project to follow Jared and each day’s events.   

Visit www.theeagleflight.org for these updates.

You can view the entire route by clicking on the following link: http://www.theeagleflight.org/pages/route.htm

 **ALL STOPS ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS**

The media are invited to come out and interview Jared, representatives from Utah Valley State College and members of the local EAA chapter.

NOTE: If you would like to interview Jared anytime up until May 27^th, he can be reached at: 208-713-2519

From May 27^th through July 1^st, you can contact the Eagle Flight cell phone at: 208-761-3410.

Departure is planned for 7 a.m. local time every morning, so anyone wanting early interviews during the trip can contact Jared after 7pm each night, or between 5:30-6:30 am.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please send an email to:

Stacey Commer

The Eagle Flight-Media/Logistics

stacey@theeagleflight.org

The Eagle Flight website also contains helpful information that may be useful to you: http://www.theeagleflight.org/

Print media, the following are pictures for you to use as you wish:

(No photo credit necessary - Click on images to enlarge)