The Tecnam P92 MkII will be a pivotal asset during competitions, showcasing its prowess in message drops, navigation, power-off landings, and various challenging events. Known for its success in Region IX flight competitions, the Eagles Flight Team aims to elevate its performance with this cutting-edge addition.

Ken Byrnes, Embry-Riddle’s assistant dean and flight chair, emphasized the significance of selecting the Tecnam P92 MkII.

• READ MORE: Tecnam P92 MkII Enters New Era 

“Our selection of the Tecnam P92 at Embry-Riddle reflects a step change in the continuation of providing safe, reliable, and cost-efficient platforms for our Eagle’s Flight Team to remain competitive in the future,” Byrnes said.

David Copeland, director of sales at Tecnam U.S., also expressed enthusiasm about the Eagles Flight Team adopting Tecnam’s aircraft.

“The P92 is a stable, solid, and cost-effective platform that has proven to be the go-to aircraft for flight school programs around the world,” Copeland said. “We are excited to see the Eagles Flight Team piloting Tecnams into the future.”

The P92 MkII boasts enhanced short-field performance, superior climb characteristics, and increased efficiency, thanks to its composite fuselage. With an expanded cabin volume offering improved comfort and advanced Garmin G3X touch avionics, including synthetic view and ground proximity warning, the Eagles Flight Team gains a technological edge in its collegiate aviation pursuits.Tecnam stands at the forefront of eco-friendly aviation initiatives—and the P92 MkII is no exception. Recognized as part of the world’s most environmentally friendly training fleet, Tecnam’s commitment to sustainability aligns with the aviation industry’s emissions goals. Flight schools using Tecnam’s single- and twin-engine fleet can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 60 percent, setting a new standard in eco-friendly flight training.

The post Tecnam to Bring Performance for Embry-Riddle’s Flight Team appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

First, we take you inside the cockpit of a Frasca RTD (reconfigurable training device) with Garmin G1000 panel for the ground trainer event. This isn’t just any simulator—it’s a tool that turns abstract concepts into real-world applications. As students maneuver through the training pattern, they do so under strict guidelines: Electronic devices are only allowed as silent timers, and the pattern provided by the judge is their only guide. This isn’t just about testing their knowledge—it’s about ensuring accuracy under pressure, all while maintaining the integrity of the competition.

• SAFECON Championship: The Ground Competition

Then, we dive into the high-stakes realm of the IFR Sim Event, again featuring Frasca’s latest simulator, the RTD configured as a Cessna 172 with the G1000 flight deck. Contestants take to simulated skies, navigating adverse weather conditions. However, this isn’t a full-avionics-suite experience—the G1000 is simplified, so advanced features such as GPS, autopilot, auto tune, and zoom are off-limits. This restriction places the focus on the competitors’ core piloting skills and their ability to adapt and react under intense pressure.

• SAFECON Championship: What Teams Qualified?

Finally, we give you a front-row seat to the teamwork extravaganza that is the CRM/LOFT Event. This year, the emphasis rests on giving competitors more hands-on time with the simulator, while still maintaining the intensity of the event. Each team navigates its short flight from Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, familiarizing itself with the crew expectations and the simulator’s navigational equipment. Autopilot isn’t an option here. It’s all about manual control and effective team communication.

• SAFECON National Championship: ‘March Madness of Aviation’

So, get ready for this adrenaline-packed journey into the world of collegiate aviation in “Episode 4: The Ground Simulator.” The riveting world of SAFECON 2023 continues to unfold, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride. See you for Episode 5!

The post SAFECON Championship: The Ground Simulators appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Here at FLYING, we’re excited to share “Episode 3: The Ground Competition,” the next installment of our six-part SAFECON 2023 series. This episode pulls back the curtain on the ground portion of the competition, showing you the intense prep and brain-teasing challenges the teams tackle.

• READ MORE: SAFECON Championship: What Teams Qualified?

We’ll take you into the heart-pounding rush of the Aircraft Recognition Event, where competitors have a mere 15 seconds to identify an aircraft’s manufacturer, model number, and common name from a 3-second slide.

You’ll get to witness the mental gymnastics in the Computer Accuracy challenge, as contestants race against time, crunching complex flight planning calculations on a manual E6B flight computer.

And, we’ll show you the meticulous detective work involved in the Preflight Inspection Event, where participants comb over an aircraft seeded with 30 unairworthy discrepancies, racing to find as many as they can in 15 minutes.

• SAFECON National Championship: ‘March Madness of Aviation’

We’re releasing a new episode of our behind-the-scenes dive into SAFECON 2023 every week until the end of July. Tune in, and get a firsthand look at what it takes to be a NIFA SAFECON champion. See you next episode!

The post SAFECON Championship: The Ground Competition appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In addition to helping collegiate aviators expand their flying skills, NIFA allows these pilots to further their careers by networking with industry officials and demonstrating their willingness and ability to go above and beyond the regular curriculum.

• READ MORE: Top Five Challenges of University Flight Students

The organization has grown over the decades, and now select members of NIFA attend the Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON). This year, SAFECON 2023 will be held in May in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In May 2022, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott won the NIFA SAFECON national championship for the second consecutive year at the Ohio State University Airport (KOSU). The win marked the 14th time the school won the top title.

• READ MORE: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Captures 2022 NIFA SAFECON Championship

Following the SAFECON 2022-23 regional competition season, NIFA announced it is inviting the following colleges and universities to compete at the National SAFECON 2023:

Region 1

• United States Air Force Academy
• Utah State University
• Metro State University of Denver
• Aims Community College

Region 2

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott
• California Aeronautical University
• San Jose State University

Region 3

• Western Michigan University
• Ohio State University
• Kent State University

Region 4

• LeTourneau University
• Oklahoma State University 
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Louisiana Tech University

Region 6

• University of North Dakota
• University of Nebraska – Omaha
• Minnesota State University – Mankato
• Kansas State University
• University of Central Missouri

Region 7

• Bridgewater State University
• United States Military Academy

Region 8

• Southern Illinois University
• Purdue University
• Lewis University

Region 9

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona
• Auburn University
• Polk State College

Region 10

• Liberty University
• Averett University
• United States Naval Academy

The post NIFA Unveils SAFECON 2023 Invitee List appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

A full list of events and winners is below:

SAFECON Championship

1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
2. University of North Dakota
3. LeTourneau University-Longview

Flight Events Championship

1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott 
2. University of North Dakota
3. LeTourneau University-Longview

Ground Events Championship

1. University of North Dakota
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Southern Illinois University

Judges Trophy

1. University of North Dakota
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Southern Illinois University

Loening Trophy

1. Auburn University

Men’s Achievement Award

1. Aric Anderson: Minnesota State University-Mankato
2. Eric Tivy: Auburn University
3. Mateo Argote: LeTourneau University-Longview

Women’s Achievement Award

1. Victoria Lorenzon: Kent State University
2. Claire Reader: Oklahoma State University
3. Maggie Hearn: Auburn University

Coach of the Year:

1. Scott Vlasek: University of Nebraska- Omaha

Competition Safety Award 

1. Auburn University 

Aircraft Preflight Inspection

1. Camden Deller: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
3. Devyn Thurman: Ohio State University

Aircraft Recognition

1. Rasheed Adamu: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Kenrick Vail: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota

Computer Accuracy

1. Jamie Gallagher: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Matthew Cleveland: University of North Dakota
3. Caroline Kelley: University of North Dakota 

CRM/LOFT

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Ryan Fitzgerald: University of North Dakota
3. Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy

American Airlines Safety Award 

1. Auburn University
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Liberty University

Red Baron Team Sportsmanship Award

1. Oklahoma State University

Top Pilot

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Hayden Morse: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Top Scoring Participant 

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Hayden Morse: Embry Riddle-Prescott
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Regional Top Pilot

Region 1: Dylan Beal: Metropolitan State University of Denver
Region 2: Douglas Niemela: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Region 3: Kyla Albrecht: Western Michigan University
Region 4: Simon Awcock: LeTourneau University-Longview
Region 5: Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
Region 6: Benjamin Morris: Southern Illinois University
Region 8: Janes Hanover: Embry-Riddle-Daytona
Region 9: Josh Engberg: Liberty University

Outstanding Team Member

1. Owen Brennan: University of Nebraska-Omaha 
2. Gabriel Witt: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Angelo Molina: Western Michigan University

Certified Flight Instructor

1. Victoria Lorenzon: Kent State University
2. Anna Scott: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Jason Walter: Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ground Trainer

1. Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy
2. Eleanor Brown: Ohio State University
3. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota

Instrument Simulated Flight

1. Joseph Mucklestone: United States Air Force Academy
2. Christopher Shields: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Christian Mickan: St. Louis University

Message Drop

1. Carson Wells and Aaron Schwartz: University of North Dakota
2. George Biery and Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy
3. Shane Oatman and Giles Beebe: United States Air Force Academy

Power Off Landing

1. Hayden Morse: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview
3. Joe Taylor- University of North Dakota

Short Field Landing

1. Hayden Morris: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
2. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation

1. Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
2. Mikayla Weiss: University of North Dakota
3. Matthew Arnovick: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

Traditional Navigation

1. Dominic Parenti and Noah Pattani: Ohio State University
2. Joe Taylor and Carson Wells: University of North Dakota
3. Ryan Leach and Caden Stine: United States Air Force Academy

Unlimited Navigation

1. Ryan Fitzgerald and Matthew Cleveland: University of North Dakota
2. Gabriel Witt and George Fiscu: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Max Langerud and Caroline Kelley: University of North Dakota

Twenty-eight university teams with almost 500 students competed in 12 events to test their aviation knowledge and skills at the event.

The 2022 NIFA SAFECON was the first in-person competition since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dale Gelter, assistant director of airport operations at the Ohio State University Airport, supports NIFA as a way for students to network with industry professionals and gain lasting friendships. 

“For Flight Team competitors, SAFECON is the event that challenges you at new airports and tests your piloting skills,” he said in a statement. “It’s also the place where you make lifelong friendships with other people in the aviation industry. It’s a privilege to have been involved as a student during college, a NIFA judge, and an administrator at a host airport.”

Brynne Barr, an Ohio State Flight Team member a freshman at Ohio State University, expressed their passion for NIFA.

“Flight Team has presented me with an incredible opportunity to refine my pilot skills, build meaningful relationships with my peers, and make connections with many experienced and passionate individuals in the aviation industry,” they said. “As a freshman, I am thrilled to return these next three years as a competitor, and after that as a coach and proud alumnus.”

The post Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Captures 2022 NIFA SAFECON Championship appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Top collegiate pilots will participate in a number of events to test their skills and knowledge in aviation, both on the ground and in flight. 

The Competition

During the week, 28 university teams made up of almost 500 students will compete in 12 events to test their knowledge and skill. Events will include aircraft recognition, navigation, and more. 

The schools competing in this year’s event are:

• Auburn University
• Bridgewater State University
• California Aeronautical University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
• Jacksonville University
• Kansas State University-Salina
• Kent State University
• LeTourneau University
• Lewis University
• Liberty University
• Louisiana Tech University
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Minnesota State University-Mankato
• Oklahoma State University
• Polk State University
• Purdue University
• San Jose State University
• Southern Illinois University
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• St. Louis University-Parks College
• Ohio State University
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Nebraska-Omaha
• University of North Dakota
• Utah State University
• Western Michigan University

To become a university team within NIFA, the school must be a college or university with an aviation degree track. 

The event will commence on Monday, May 9, and continue through May 14.

Event Schedule 

Scott van Ooyen, a standards check pilot for Southwest Airlines and one of the competition’s judges, says participation in NIFA gives students an upper hand in pursuing career opportunities after graduation. 

“The students involved with NIFA are unequivocally better prepared than their peers due to their dedication to perfecting their pilot knowledge and skills,” he said. “We, in the industry, recognize the time and effort required while competing on flight teams and actively pursue post-collegiate education.”  

Adam Stiffler, director of communications, says NIFA can bring value to students’ education. 

“It’s a chance for students to take collegiate-level education to the next level and practice outside the norm, network with industry professionals and other teams. It really comes down to practicing your skills and networking.”

During the event, industry professionals and airline recruiters will host booths, providing a perfect opportunity for networking. 

Participating groups and companies include: 

• The 99s
• ALPA
• American Airlines
• Aviation Supplies and Academics
• Cirrus Aircraft
• Delta Air Lines
• Endeavor Air
• Envoy Air, Inc.
• Flight Safety
• FLYING Magazine
• Foreflight
• Frasca
• King Schools
• LabCorp
• NAFI
• National Air Transportation Association
• Net Jets
• Piper Aircraft
• Republic Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Sporty’s Pilot Shop
• Talon Systems
• Textron Aircraft
• UPS

This is the 12th year Ohio State has hosted the SAFECON Championship. To become a host, student representatives vote based on a number of factors like facilities, airport conditions, and weather. Until recently, only university airports were permitted to be used for the competition, but now, non-university facilities can host the event. 

The post NIFA SAFECON Championship Begins Monday appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This commitment will coin the NIFA championship “The SAFECON National Championship Powered by Flightsafety.” 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Both NIFA and FlightSafety have a long history of supporting aviation,” Nate Speiser, executive vice president of sales and marketing at FlightSafety said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to supporting students’ passion for aviation through this partnership, and to further promoting the many exciting career paths available.”

In addition to naming rights, FSI has also pledged a financial commitment to support NIFA’s mission, advance the competitions, and expand the event to include aviation maintenance students. 

“Our mission is to do whatever we can to support collegiate aviators and help prepare them for careers in aviation,” NIFA executive director Taylor Newman said. “FlightSafety’s support of this mission takes it to a whole new level and helps shed even more light on NIFA. It’s just a great match for both of us.”

More than 80 colleges and universities compete in NIFA events, both regionally and nationally, every year.

The post FlightSafety International Makes Investment in National Intercollegiate Flying Association appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) kicked off the next round of its Safecon events in region 8 on Tuesday. The competition is being held at Terre Haute International Airport (KHUF) in Terre Haute, Indiana.

NIFA serves as a forum for competitive and non-competitive collegiate aviators. The goal is to help them expand their studies through events, networking, and competitions.

The finals competition for 2021 was held virtually in June, with the Embry-Riddle Golden Eagles-Prescott securing the win.

Event Types

The competition features 11 exercises:

Navigation: A cross-country flight over a three-to-five-leg course between 70 and 120 nautical miles. Each contestant submits a flight plan before takeoff, which includes estimated time en route for each leg, total elapsed time and fuel consumption.

Short-Field Landing: This tests the pilot’s skill at maneuvering and landing the airplane. After taking off and flying a normal traffic pattern, the objective is to land as close to, if not on, the target line.

Power-Off Landing: Similar to the Short-Field Event, except that the power must be reduced to and remain at idle on the downwind leg above the target line. The approach is made essentially by gliding for the remainder of the traffic pattern to touchdown, preferably on the target line.

Message Drop: The objective here is to hit a target on the ground with a message container dropped from an airplane at 200 feet above the ground.

Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation Event (SCAN): A written exam with problems that reference a simulated cross-country flight over a given route.

Ground Trainer: This tests the competency and skill of the contestant’s ability to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) in a flight-training device.

Aircraft Recognition: Slides of aircraft are shown on a screen for three seconds. Competitors then have 15 seconds to identify the aircraft’s manufacturer, model number, and common name.

Computer Accuracy: Participants solve mathematical flight planning computations using a manually operated flight computer.

Preflight Inspection: An aircraft is “bugged” with at least 30 unairworthy discrepancies. Contestants are given 15 minutes to preflight the aircraft and find as many of the discrepancies as possible.

IFR Simulator: Competitors are required to demonstrate instrument flight rules (IFR) proficiency and precision by flying a given route in a simulator.

Certified Flight Instructor: The event starts with the CFI preparing a predetermined subject. If weather and time permits, the CFI then teaches the lesson in flight.

The post NIFA Kicks Off Next Round of Safecon Events appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Wally Funk has spent the grand majority of her 82 years in aviation and in aerospace, starting when she first took an airplane ride at age 13 and continued on to earn her private pilot certificate when she was 16. Her mother was an inspiration to her—she herself went on a barnstorming flight in 1918, though she was talked out of aviation as a pursuit by Wally’s grandfather.

Wally’s love of collegiate aviation began with her own tenure as a member of the “Flying Aggies” of Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the late 1950s. During college, she wore the team’s uniform—which consisted of white coveralls, and a cowboy hat and boots—to air meets. She picked up several awards along the way, including Outstanding Female Pilot, Flying Aggie Top Pilot, and the Alfred Alder Memorial Trophy. Funk was inducted into the OSU College of Education, Health and Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010.

Wally’s connection with the National Intercollegiate Flying Association continued throughout her career, with her face a familiar one judging and mentoring at NIFA events around the country. Her direct style, wealth of knowledge, and connection to college teams has made her a favorite among participants.

But Wally was just out of college at 22 years old when she was tapped to join a secret project to test the capacity of women to survive and thrive in spaceflight. Led by Dr. R. Lovelace (the same man who similarly put 31 male astronaut candidates through a battery of tests to end up with the Mercury Seven), the team first put Jerrie Cobb through all of the same tests in February 1960. From Wally’s own story posted on the Ninety-Nines site, she describes it: “Lists were made of eligible women to participate in the Mercury Program from FAA records in Washington D.C. and The Ninety-Nines. Twenty-five women were contacted. The women were to be under 35 years of age, in good health, hold a second class medical, four-year college education, a commercial rating or better and have over 2,000 hours of flying time. Jerrie Cobb helped in the selection, and if it had not been for Jerrie, the Mercury 13 would have never made it on paper much less into the testing phases.”

Between February 1961 and later that summer, Wally joined Cobb and K’ Cagle, Jan Dietrich, Marion Dietrich, Jane Hart, Jean Hixson, Gene Nora Jessen, Irene Leverton, Sarah Ratley, ‘B’ Steadman, Jerri Truhill and Rhea Woltman to become the “Mercury 13,” though they ended up with no such official status. Wally, Jerrie, and Rhea went onto the next round of tests, with Jerrie and Wally completing the final tests, Phase III.

Wally never doubted she and her female colleagues would fare well in space. In an oral history archived by NASA in 1999, Wally said, “How well did they come across on the Mayflower? Terrific. How well did they go across the prairies and settle the West in their covered wagons? Great. Big families. Didn’t think anything about it. Why can’t we fly and go into space? The men today that think that we can’t, as women, do things, sorry, folks, we can do it. A woman—and I’m sure Eileen [Collins] has tried extra hard to do her best, because nobody wants to fail, and failure is not a part of my makeup. I do the best I can do and I kick as many doors in as I possibly can, no matter where I go.”

She could still count on her mother for support as well, in an ingenious way, as told from the same oral history: “So, I called Mother up in Hemet, California, and I said, ‘Mom, I need your worst Merry Widow and girdle when you were a girl. Can you get those to me?’ ‘You betcha.’ So, I modified and made my own G suit out of her Merry Widow, and just stuffed my body in this tight little thing, then put my flight suit over it, because I knew once they started to twirl me around in the centrifuge, obviously they thought that I was going to go out within the first go-round of 3 Gs, but I knew to keep the blood rushed up in my body and up in my head. So obviously they gave me three 3Gs for two minutes at a time, and the cameras were set at different places.”

After the failure of the space program to take advantage of these qualified candidates for an actual mission, Wally let no moss grow beneath her. In the 1960s, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, she was the first female flight instructor for the military at an air base. She was appointed as an FAA aviation safety inspector in 1971, the first woman to perform that role. She became the first woman to hold a position as an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, in 1974. Wally retired from the NTSB in 1985 but continued instructing and conducting flight examinations. She has spent her time mentoring and volunteering, not only with NIFA, but also with the Ninety-Nines and Women in Aviation International—by which she was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1995.

She had put a deposit down on a ticket to fly with Virgin Galactic in 2012—and at one point went through preparations to fly from Russia with the Zeghram Voyages program in the early 2000s. But on July 1, 2021, she secured an invitation from Blue Origin to join the crew of New Shepard, which launched on July 20 from the company’s installation in West Texas. Along with Bezos and his brother Mark, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, Wally was on the New Shepard for its first commercial spaceflight with humans on board.

The rocket’s engines fired at 8:12 am CDT, after a couple of holds along the countdown timeline. The crew capsule reached apogee at 351,210 ft msl (107 km msl), with the booster reaching apogee at 350,835 ft msl (106 km msl). The New Shepard’s maximum velocity was reached on its ascent at 2,233 mph (3,595 km/h).

With an elapsed mission time of 10 minutes, 10 seconds, it wasn’t a long ride. But by the sheer joy—expressed so completely by Wally as she left the crew capsule back into the embrace of the Texas desert—will last another lifetime for the woman who is now the Earth’s oldest astronaut.

The post Wally Funk Becomes an Astronaut at Last appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The pandemic forced the 2021 NIFA SAFECON (National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference) Championship to be held virtually this year without the flying segments. After completion of the online events, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Golden Eagles Flight Team from its Prescott, Arizona, campus won the event, making them 13-time national SAFECON champions and the winningest collegiate flight team of the past 25 years.

During the virtual championship between teams from 28 universities, ERAU flight students competed in Aircraft Recognition, Computer Accuracy, SCAN (Flight Planning), Preflight Inspection, and Ground Trainer competitions. All competitors took tests at their schools, with NIFA judges watching via Zoom calls. ERAU’s team had 35 members this past year, with 10 of those being freshmen brought on to the team in late 2020. “NIFA SAFECON is to collegiate aviation what the Super Bowl is to the NFL or the Stanley Cup is to the NHL,” ERAU said.

NIFA exists as a forum for collegiate aviators to expand their studies and further their careers by participating in competitive and non-competitive events, networking with industry and peers, and applying themselves to push beyond their ordinary curriculum. The organization can trace its roots back to a group of students at Columbia University that formed a flying club in 1919. Their first competition was held on May 7, 1920, and Yale University took first place, assisted by Juan Trippe, future founder of Pan American Airways, flying a war-surplus Curtis JN-4 Jenny.

According to NIFA, Popular Aviation magazine said of the organization, “A National intercollegiate aviation association was organized at Washington, DC in December to put competitive flying activities between colleges in a class with football, baseball, and other major sports. Delegates from most of the leading universities were present.”

“I think the biggest thing I’m proud of in the team is the level of perseverance and the many obstacles that we had to overcome in the last 10 months,” said Shaun Shephard, the ERAU Golden Eagles Flight Team’s head coach. “There were numerous times where we didn’t know what was going to come in the next week, our regionals were pushed until February, we had an extended winter break, and we had a time of shut down in early fall semester. All of our meetings and practices were socially distanced, and we had very little time that the team could come together, so we were always being taken out of our comfort zone.”

In each of the timed virtual events, students were presented with a series of questions that were augmented by Powerpoint presentations prepared by NIFA. Anyone who has ever taken an FAA written exam would easily recognize the kinds of navigation, performance, weight and balance, and other questions the student competitors had to answer. In the Aircraft Recognition category, students were shown photos of various airplane makes and models via a Powerpoint slide deck and given three seconds to view each slide and fifteen to thirty seconds to name the correct manufacturer, model number, and common name.

“I have been reminding the team about what that word team really means is ‘Together Everyone Achieves More,’” Shephard added. “We were successful in nationals not because computer accuracy swept the top five spots or aircraft identification took five of the top six spots, but because everybody continued to push each member of the team to be the best they could when it mattered. We will enjoy this 13th championship, but we are already looking forward to next year to complete a repeat championship.”

ERAU-Prescott won the Judges Trophy with 1,832.5 total points. The University of North Dakota can in a close second, with 1,822 points, and the Southern Illinois University team came in third, with 1,702 points. The next NIFA SAFECON is planned for 2022.

The post Embry-Riddle Golden Eagles Win 13th NIFA SAFECON Title appeared first on FLYING Magazine.