EAA and AMA Teams Complete Successful Young Eagles Build and Fly Camp with Full Flight Success

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has reported a complete success for its Young Eagles Build and Fly (YE B&F) summer camp held in June 2026. In close partnership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and EAA Chapter 478, eight youths aged 10 to 15 built foam radio-controlled (RC) planes and flew them at the Patuxent Aeromodelers' Helwig Field near St. Mary’s Airport, Maryland. This marks an important continuation of EAA’s initiative to engage young people beyond the excitement of a single Young Eagles flight.

The YE B&F program was designed to pair EAA chapters with local AMA clubs, providing youth hands-on opportunities in aviation. EAA Chapter 478 expanded on their 2024 pilot build camp by making each participant responsible for building their own plane and adding more flight time, addressing feedback from previous iterations. The key change for the 2026 camp was switching from traditional balsa wood model kits to the Flite Test Super Scout XL foam model, which enabled faster construction.

The weeklong camp’s curriculum combined classroom learning with practical building and flying exercises. Early days focused on theory: aerodynamics, stability and control, and RC fundamentals, alongside foam cutting and assembly techniques. Mornings on days four and five were dedicated to supervised flight training using practice models, while afternoons returned to final assembly tasks at the airport terminal building, including transmitter setup, weight balancing, and flight simulation tests.

Emphasizing safety was paramount given the potential hazards of lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries and propellers on these large RC models. The EAA and AMA leadership invested significant effort to educate both the youth and their parents that these aircraft were not toys. Adult mentors closely supervised the hands-on sessions to ensure compliance with safety protocols and proper handling procedures.

Participant recruitment began in April 2026 with a hands-on workshop building a simpler Flite Test Glider model at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. This event helped secure half of the eight camp spots; the remainder were filled through outreach with local organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol and simulator programs. A $100 camp fee was required to encourage commitment from families.

On the culminating Saturday, despite threatening weather, all eight finished Super Scout XL models were flown successfully by their builders—the first flights marking a significant achievement for the program. Each Young Eagle completed multiple solo flights under instructor supervision. Although one model was briefly lost in nearby trees, it was safely recovered by fellow participants. The camp concluded with awards honoring top builders and flyers.

This successful completion met all the camp’s goals and reinforced the value of the EAA/AMA collaboration in inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. Chapter 478 praised the collective effort of volunteers, instructors, and supportive parents for the program’s smooth execution. The full story and photos have been shared on the EAA Chapter 478 website.

By evolving its Build and Fly curriculum to rapidly produce fly-ready RC models, and pairing experiential learning with practical flying skills, EAA is effectively sustaining youth interest in aviation careers and hobbies beyond introductory flights. The 8-for-8 flight success rate at this camp sets a new benchmark for future camps nationwide and highlights the scalability of the program model.