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Alright, it isn’t a holiday to most people but my kids love it as much as Christmas. We look forward to it every year.
What is it? Free flight day is when pilots offer their knowledge, time, and planes to take children, ages 8 to 17 on a free 20 minute flight. The children receive ground training, check the in-flight training (They chat with the pilot.), and a logbook to record their air time.
Many small airports offer this experience through the Young Eagles. Finding the day it is offered at a small airport near you is the tricky part. My children have experienced Free Flight Day in Puyallup, WA (at Thun Field), in McMinnville, Oregon, and in Independence, Oregon. Every experience we have had with Free Flight Day has been a positive experience.
You can try looking at the Young Eagles Find a Flight Webpage for their next free flight day or try looking at the website of an airport near you.
Parents do have to stay at the airport and sign waivers for the children to go on the flights. You can get an idea of what the event is like and what the forms look like here: http://infiniteaircenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Young-Eagles-Form.pdf
Sometimes there can be a line, which means a wait. Get there early and take some snacks with you. If you are inclined to make a day of it, most of the airports have a restaurant near the airfield.
One more thing, sometimes it can get cold in the plane or while you wait; take a light weight sweatshirt or coat. Make sure you remember your camera!
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