Today was overcast but the ceiling was high and visibility clear. A good day for a plane ride.

Numerous children got to ride today at the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport as part of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles event.

“It started because of Trey,” said Jennifer Gary of her nearly 3-year-old son. “Trey loves airplanes. When he sees one in the sky he says, ‘I wish I was up there.’”

Trey and his two sisters got to ride in a plane for the first time.

For Destiny Sexton, 9, it was her third time flying, her grandmother, Connie Hux, said. “She does everything she can pertaining to this ... Anything educational. She really likes it.”

Airport Manager Ralph Johnson was pleased the rains forecast for today held off. “It’s nice. As long as we’ve got enough visibility we can send them up.”

James Elliott, Elizabeth City chapter president of the association, says the chapter has taken more than 1,000 children on free flights over the past 10 years. “Some are a little nervous, some are little excited.”

Elliott, who has logged some 4,500 hours, sees the Young Eagles events as a positive tool for youngsters and has seen children involved in the organization and Civil Air Patrol get into aviation. “One of the first kids who joined got a flight scholarship. Now he has 250 hours and is getting his commercial license. “If it was not for the program he would not be a pilot today.”