Kentucky students compete

Students from seven high schools across Kentucky recently displayed their aviation knowledge at a statewide competition that brought together aspiring pilots and experienced aviation industry professionals.

Frankfort High School took home top team honors at the SkillsUSA Aviation Competition at Shawnee High School in Louisville on Friday, Feb. 25. Jacob Alvey, a Frankfort High School aviation student, came in first in the advanced division.

Here are the state aviation contest results:

Fundamentals

1. Terry Lessor – The Academy@Shawnee
2. Blake Greever – Monroe County High School
3. Nick Hoffmann – Frankfort High School

Advanced

1. Jacob Alvey – Frankfort High School
2. Stephanie Jones – Frankfort High School
3. Jonathan Harvey – Muhlenberg County High School

More than 50 students attended the third annual statewide competition. The event was sponsored by SkillsUSA, a career and technical education organization based in Leesburg,Va.

Students aspiring to launch careers as pilots, airplane mechanics and airline managers were quizzed on their general knowledge of airplanes and their simulated flying skills.

Twelve volunteers from the aviation industry served as judges for the competition. The aviation professionals included representatives from the FAA, UPS, Humana and Indiana State University.

The Kentucky competition was divided into advanced and beginner categories.

Students were quizzed on their airplane knowledge by reviewing a pre-flight check list while making a safety check of a plane. They were asked to identify problems deliberately planted on the aircraft.

The competition also included an aircraft recognition test. Students were asked to identify the make, model and name of various planes.

Students also manned a flight simulator to show their flying skills (pictured above).

Schools competing in the Kentucky competition: Frankfort HS, Muhlenberg County HS, Monroe County HS, The Academy at Shawnee, Taylor County HS, Bryan Station HS, and Rowan Co HS.

For more information, contact Dr. Tim Smith, CEO of the Kentucky Institute for Aerospace Education at [email protected] or at 502-320-9490.