09/30/2026
** REGISTER TODAY **
FREE AIRPLANE RIDES FOR YOUTH AGES 8-17
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
Parents must pick up, complete, and return registration forms to the Taos Visitor Center and Taos Pueblo Collective, located at 1201 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.
TAOS YOUTH FLIGHT RALLY
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Taos-area youth ages 8 to 17 will have a unique opportunity to take to the skies during the Taos Youth Flight Rally on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Taos Aviation Services Facility and Hangar, located at the Taos Regional Airport. Flight times will run from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM, weather and pilot availability permitting.
The Taos Youth Flight Rally was created to spark interest in aviation among young people and to build one-on-one connections between local pilots and the next generation. During the event volunteer pilots will offer free airplane rides and share information about how aircraft work, how flights are conducted safely, and what it takes to become a pilot. These generous pilots donate their time, aircraft, and fuel to give local youth a hands-on introduction to aviation, free of charge.
Parents must pick up, complete, and return registration forms to the Taos Visitor Center and Taos Pueblo Collective, located at 1201 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, by Friday, October 2, 2026. The Taos Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please note that registration must be completed by a parent or legal guardian, not the child.
A random drawing will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, and 70 participants will be selected to receive a flight slot. Selected participants will be contacted on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to confirm their scheduled flight time.
Parental permission is required for participation.
All registered participants will automatically be entered into a raffle drawing made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. The 1st Prize is four roundtrip flights provided by JSX with an estimated value of $5,600. The 2nd Prize is four roundtrip flights provided by Contour Airlines with an estimated value of $2,072 (taxes not included). The 3rd Prize is four balloon flights provided by Rio Grande Balloons with an estimated value of $1,540. The 4th Prize is one-night at The Blake provided by Taos Ski Valley with an estimated value of $560. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing to win. Contact information for all participants will be on file, and winners will be notified directly.
This exciting community event is made possible through the generous support of many local partners, airlines, and organizations including Contour Airlines, JSX, local pilots, McDonald’s of Taos, Rio Grande Balloons, Taos Aviation Services, Taos Fire Department, Taos Police Department, Taos Regional Airport, Taos Ski Valley, the Taos Visitor Center and Taos Pueblo Collective, Town of Taos Events, and TriState CareFlight.
For More Information
Colton Rapstine
Taos Regional Airport Manager
(575) 770-1699 | [email protected]
Ray Rodriguez
Airport Operations Manager, Taos Aviation Services
(575) 613-3705 | [email protected]
Judy Esquibel
Community Events Coordinator, Town of Taos Events
(575) 751-2037 | [email protected]
For event updates, visit TaosNM.gov, the Town of Taos Events page, or follow on Instagram.
Town of Taos
Daniel Barrone
Darien Fernandez
Billy Romero for Taos
Namba for Taos
Genevieve Oswald
Valorie Mondragon
Cuauhtemoc Herrera
Contour Airlines
JSX
Local Pilots
McDonald's of Taos
Rio Grande Balloons
Taos Aviation Services FBO
Taos Professional Firefighters Union IAFF Local 5245
Taos Police Department
Taos Regional Airport
Taos Ski Valley
Visit Taos Ski Valley
CareFlight 16
