EAA Chapter 251: Free Young Eagles Flights for Kids
Published 8 November 2026
EAA Chapter 251, The Spirit of Aviation, is Alamogordo's chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and it offers kids ages 8 to 17 free airplane rides through its Young Eagles rallies. The chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport, and anyone can join, even if you have never flown.
I met Ralph Ketter, the chapter's Young Eagles coordinator, at the airport open house on November 7. Right behind his booth sat a row of airplanes that chapter members built themselves from kits.
What are Young Eagles flights?
Young Eagles is a national EAA program that gives kids ages 8 to 17 a free ride in a general aviation airplane, flown by volunteer pilots. Ralph told me Chapter 251 usually holds a Young Eagles rally about once a year here in Alamogordo. Why do it for free? In Ralph's words, to open up aviation to kids so they know more about it, let them experience what it is like, and hopefully encourage them into something connected with aviation.
The chapter's Young Eagles page lists Ralph as the coordinator, so he is the person to ask about the next rally. Chapters all over the country hold their own rallies too, so if you are traveling, EAA's site can point you to one nearby.
What does EAA stand for, and what does the chapter do?
EAA is the Experimental Aircraft Association. Ralph explained that "experimental" basically means home built airplanes. "We're a group that likes to build airplanes ourselves and then fly them," he said, "and we just like to promote aviation."
The kit built planes on the ramp proved his point. Several were RV series kit planes from Van's Aircraft, one wearing an RV-6 label on its side. The chapter's website even has a page of members' planes and projects, including Ralph's own RV-6, plus a Build A Plane section and a chapter hangar.
Who can join EAA Chapter 251?
"Anybody," Ralph said. Pilots and builders, of course, but he told me you do not even have to be interested in airplanes to join. Here is what to know:
| Detail | EAA Chapter 251 |
|---|---|
| Meetings | Second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. (December is a holiday party at a restaurant) |
| Where | The chapter hangar at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport, or the terminal pilots lounge in bad weather |
| Local dues | $25 a year |
| National EAA dues | About $40 to $50 a year, per Ralph (check eaa.org for the current rate) |
| Young Eagles | Free flights for kids 8 to 17 at chapter rallies |
| Website | chapters.eaa.org/EAA251 |
One practical tip from the chapter's About Us page: the hangar needs airport access, so if you are a first time guest, contact the chapter ahead of the meeting and someone will meet you in the airport parking lot.
How is Chapter 251 different from the other aviation groups here?
Alamogordo is lucky to have several. Young Eagles is a one time free ride for kids 8 to 17, a perfect first taste of flying. The Civil Air Patrol is an ongoing cadet program for ages 12 to 17 with weekly meetings. And the Holloman Aero Club teaches military connected adults to fly. You can see them all side by side in my guide to aviation groups in Alamogordo.
What does this mean for families living in or moving to Alamogordo?
Small towns are at their best when neighbors share what they love, and these folks clearly love airplanes. A free flight over the Tularosa Basin is the kind of memory a kid keeps forever, and it costs your family nothing. If you are new in town or thinking about a move, my Moving to Alamogordo guide covers the rest of what makes this a great place to land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Young Eagles flights?
Young Eagles is an EAA program that gives kids ages 8 to 17 a free airplane ride with a volunteer pilot. Chapter 251 usually holds a Young Eagles rally about once a year in Alamogordo.
Are Young Eagles flights really free?
Yes. The flights are free for kids 8 to 17, made possible by EAA member volunteers.
When does EAA Chapter 251 meet?
The chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport. In December it holds a holiday party and meeting at a restaurant instead.
Do I have to be a pilot or builder to join EAA Chapter 251?
No. Anyone is welcome to join, whether you fly, build or just enjoy airplanes.
How much does it cost to join EAA Chapter 251?
Local chapter dues are $25 a year. National EAA membership is a separate yearly fee.
Details come from my conversation with Young Eagles coordinator Ralph Ketter at the Alamogordo airport open house on November 7, 2026, and the EAA Chapter 251 and EAA websites, as of 8 November 2026. Check the chapter's site for the next Young Eagles rally.