Quechee pilot Braxton Freeman takes kids on free flights through the Young Eagles Program. (Courtesy photograph)
Quechee pilot Braxton Freeman takes kids on free flights through the Young Eagles Program. (Courtesy photograph) Credit: Courtesy photograph

Lebanon — Braxton Freeman, of Quechee, has taken more than 200 young people for free flights as part of the Young Eagles Program offered by the Experimental Aircraft Association, but one experience sticks out in his mind.

“My favorite Young Eagles experience was when I asked a child if they ever wondered what a cloud felt like. After I sparked the interest of the 9-year-old, I asked her to open the side window of my Cessna and stick her hand outside the plane. We flew through a small puffy cloud and the excitement that came over her face was priceless,” said Freeman, who works as the air traffic manager at the Lebanon Control Tower and is retired from the Air Force, where he worked in air traffic control.

The Young Eagles Program arranges for children between the ages of 7 and 18 to go on short airplane rides in order to get them interested in flight. Freeman, 62, became involved with the organization 13 years ago, and is now the Young Eagles coordinator and chapter president for the Lebanon Chapter 740 of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

He said that taking kids for a short ride can show them that they can have a future in flight, too.

“After many years of interesting flying adventures I decided to share my enthusiasm for a skill most kids feel is unreachable. I was inspired to fly at an age where there weren’t as many distractions in life and dreams actually could become a reality,” Freeman said. “It was a time before computers, cellphones and so many fears kids face today. I love to try and be a role model for those kids that love to dream and think they can achieve something wonderful if they are determined to learn.”

Freeman said that he still takes to the skies as often as he can, so he has the same level of enthusiasm for the program as his young passengers do.

“I have to admit I am somewhat selfish in that I seem to get as much enjoyment flying with kids as they seem to enjoy flying with me,” he said. “You never know what young life you might inspire to do something that is so exciting and fun.”

And the young Upper Valley residents in Freeman’s plane can see first-hand from their pilot that working their dream job is possible.

“All I ever dreamed about was flying airplanes someday,” Freeman said.

For more information on the Young Eagles program, visit www.740.eaachapter.org.