The first Young Eagle Rally of the 1999 season occurred on May 8 at North Shore Cessna on the North Ramp of Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN), Waukegan, Illinois. Done as part of an Open House for the new Cessna dealer, EAA Chapter 414 flew 24 kids and generated a lot of smiling faces and excitement.

Mitch Brown, Chapter 414 Young Eagles Coordinator, organized and operated the event, his first, with such enthusiasm that it's hard to know who was having a better time - him or the kids! Here's his report:

Saturday, May 8 th marked the beginning of a big push to reanimate the Young Eagles Program for Chapter 414! Pilot and ground volunteers converged on the site of North Shore Cessna at Waukegan Airport’s North
Ramp to bring the thrill of flight to 24 local young people.

I was thrilled to see how much fun the children, their parents, and the Chapter members had during the day’s event. I personally had a ball seeing the excitement and glow on each child’s face as they boarded and disembarked from each flight! It’s a sight to behold, and reminds me of my early years when
I yearned to be airborne!

Our event coincided with an open house held by Al Tenuta and the North Shore Cessna FBO and Flight School. Al was also thrilled to have us out and looks forward to many more events with us. I want to thank Peter Fay and John Gaddis for flying for us. Peter initiated 19 Young Eagles; and John initiated 5 Young
Eagles! I would also like to thank all of the ground volunteers who helped through out the entire event as well: John Gaddis, Doris Gaddis, Jim Hull, Doug MacBeth, Jim Cooperider. Thanks also to all the Chapter folks who paid us a visit and helped out! In
addition to the flights, we had an EAA Chapter 414 booth and folks had the opportunity to gawk at the North Shore Cessna Ziln and NEW Cessna Skyhawk, a Sukhoi, and Peter Fay’s Hot Air Balloon Basket, Tanks, and Rigging.

Young Eagle Pilots Peter Fay and John Gaddis brought plenty of smiles to the faces of Young Eagles