VIENNA — Several eager students ages 8 to 17 funneled into the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on Saturday for a special treat they will never forget as the Ernie Hall Chapter 117 of the Experimental Aircraft Association sponsored its Young Eagles Day.

One future pilot said he was excited because he was going to take his first flight in an airplane. That pilot, Chance Paronish of Girard, just turned 8.

The EAA is a worldwide organization of aviation enthusiasts headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Young Eagles, a branch of the EAA, was launched in 1992 to provide youth with the thrill and exposure of what it takes to become a great pilot and to experience other employment opportunities in the aviation world.

More than 2.3 million young people have participated in Young Eagles through the generosity of the EAA ground crew and volunteer pilots who donate their planes, time, fuel and expertise. Mike Hillman of Jets Fuel donated 50 gallons of fuel for this event and Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport’s director Anthony Trevena encouraged use of the facility. All aircraft are licensed by the government and each pilot is certificated by the FAA and completes EAA’s Youth Protection Training and Background Check Program.

Young Eagles volunteer pilots lead the young people to a static display airplane, complete a walk-around pre-flight inspection, and identify the parts that control the plane. They explain the seat belt buckles and interior of the plane and describe the instrument panel.

Each Young Eagle receives a logbook and certificate signed by the volunteer pilot who then explains the flight, talks about their specific airplane, reviews an aeronautical chart and some points of reference they will fly over during the 15 to 20-minute flight.

Tasso Anastasiades, 15, a sophomore at Howland High School, built a Piper Cub aircraft with a team of students in the EAA Young Eagles program a few years ago. However, Tasso wants to, one day, learn to fly in a real Piper Cub.

“Today, my wish came true. After practicing on a flight simulator at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, I had the pleasure of taking my first flight in a real aircraft. The simulator was a great learning tool, but there is nothing like the fascination of preflight, lifting off and utilizing the foot pedals and instruments just like I practiced,” Tasso said.

His mother stated that when Tasso was 4, he got to sit in a commercial pilot seat after a vacation flight back from Florida. He was hooked, especially when the pilot allowed him to announce “Thank you for flying United Airlines” over the speaker.

Christianna Dourm, 12, of Niles, was a little nervous at first. Her mother, Bobbie Joe James, said “My daughter is quite shy but when we talk about air travel she gets excited. So we thought we would give her the real gift of excitement, her first flight as a co-pilot.”

After the flight, Christianna no longer was nervous and beamed from ear to ear.

“This has perked her up and now she will be more open,” James said.

Jacob Turek, 12, a Boardman Middle school student and nephew of Trevena, even looked like a future pilot as he climbed aboard the yellow Cessna 172.

His parents, Brenda and Gary Turek, said, “We are so proud of our son and deeply indebted to the EAA Young Eagles Organization for a chance to fulfill this dream.”

He might even pursue his commercial pilots license in the future.

Dominick Posterli, 12, a student at Valley Christian, was thrilled when he got to put on the headset and listen to the control tower’s instructions before takeoff. His parents, Nikki and Dale, were so glad they got their son involved in such an organized group where students of all ages can expand their horizons.

“It’s all about the kids having a good day and sparking their interest in aviation. We need to introduce young people to flight and hopefully a few of them will go on to have careers as either pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, air traffic controllers, etc. There is a shortage of these people in our country and the best way to advance these careers is to interest the kids in aviation,” EAA Ernie Hall chapter president Anthony DeGaten said.

More than half of the pilots working today will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 in the next 15 years, according to recent statistics from the FAA. The 9,500 new pilots earning their pilot certification last year is not nearly enough to keep up with the demand.

Volunteer pilot Bob Griffin had flown 36 Young Eagles prior to Saturday’s event. He also is the co-director of the Ernie Hall Aviation Museum in Howland, which honors the pioneer aviator who is Chapter 117’s namesake.

“I fly Young Eagles to give back. When I was a kid, my father exposed me to airplanes and taught me all about them. There was no Young Eagles program then, so we would frequent the Youngstown Airport, Ernie Hall’s Flight School, and the Warren Airport, where Skeets Fieldhouse took me for my first airplane ride in a Stinson 108. I’ll never forget it and that ride fueled my passion for aviation. I want to pay it forward to inspire someone else to love flying as much as I do,” Griffin said.

Some middle and high school Young Eagles are involved in Chapter 117’s radio controlled model build. Students meet weekly and are in the process of assembling a radio controlled Piper Cub. Volunteers from the Wing Snappers RC Club guide students in assembling the model and will teach students how to fly it when complete.

However, when presented with the opportunity to fly in a real plane, students jumped at the opportunity.

EAA Ernie Hall Chapter 117 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the hangar at Griffin-Sloas Airfield on North River Road in Howland. Anyone interested in aviation is welcome to join the community of airplane enthusiasts.