Young Eagles of the Young Eagles program. Ford has flown more than 300 Young Eagles in several types of aircraft, and finished his five-year term in 2009. In September 2009, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, who became famous in the US Airways Flight 1549 Hudson River ditching on 15 January 2009, were named as the program's new co-chairmen. In July 2013, aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker replaced Sullenberger and Skiles as chairman. Rolls Royce contributed in 2010 six flight scholarships for basic flight training, and one for advanced training toward a private pilot certificate. In May 2009, EAA joined
History of the Hudson River the Revolution. The Hudson River was important for a few reasons. Firstly, the Hudson's connection to the Mohawk River allowed travelers to eventually get to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. In addition, the river's close proximity to Lake George and Lake Champlain would allow the British navy to control the water route from Montreal to New York City. In doing so, the British, under general John Burgoyne's strategy, would be able to cut off the patriot hub of New England (which is on the eastern side of the Hudson River) and focus on rallying the support of loyalists