Pine Grove – Amador County Young Eagles Program Coordinator Harry Brandt of Pine said this year’s Wings & Wheels had flown more than 100 children by the time an incident Saturday afternoon closed down the free airplane rides for children. But those who signed up will still get to take a flight, and the show will go on. Brandt said: “As unfortunate as this was, in retrospect, it’s a fender-bender.” One of the planes, taking part in the Experimental Aircraft Association program, had a mishap in an attempted takeoff, and spun off the runway. The FAA is calling it an “incident,” and will not investigate. Brandt said: “We’re just grateful that the pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured in any way.” Brandt said Pilot Ron Gagnon, of Calaveras County, was unhurt and “he was more upset about spoiling these children’s airplane ride.” Brandt was on the ground and from his vantage point, could not see the incident. He said his “concern was accounting for children and planes.” They had 13 planes on the flight line and there were 2 in the air and 3 out taxiing, which were called back. He responded to the incident about 4 minutes later. Responders included Young Eagles cadets, Calstar medics and fire fighters. Later, Brandt set about giving rain checks to children who signed up, and they “will attempt to get the remaining children out to fly.” The Young Eagles, with national spokesman, actor Harrison Ford, aim at getting children, age 8-17 interested in flying. Young Eagles have flown thousands of children in the region, and local chapters have events almost monthly. Brandt said volunteer pilots and aircraft must be EAA qualified. And the “even an experimental aircraft is a fully FAA-certified plane,” just not built by a manufacturer. The pilots in Saturday’s program were fully licensed, with private, air transport or commercial licenses, and a combined experience of more that 20,000 flight hours. Brandt talked to parents of each child involved in the incident Saturday. “The kids are all fine, physically and mentally,” he said. And he “extended invitation to each family to take them out personally” in his plane, “to satisfy them that it is safe and comfortable.” Brandt said he was not sure what went wrong Saturday, but closing the rides after the incident grounded about 50 kids who had signed up. They will be contacted by Brandt to be offered their flights as promised in the future, after he find pilots to volunteer. Brandt said it costs him about $150 an hour to fly his plane, “so the expenses these people are incurring and the generosity of them” (is remarkable). Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.