Flying Aggies Place Third at Regional Competition

Monday, November 5, 2018

The Oklahoma State University Flying Aggies Flight Team placed third in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association SAFECON Region VI Competition, held in Salina, Kansas, Oct. 13-17. The 15-member team competed in air and ground competitions and secured a place in the national competition this May in Madison, Wisconsin. 

KD McCloy, Joshua Haynes and Zachary League all placed in the top 20 for their individual events. McCloy, freshman, and Haynes, sophomore, are both professional pilot majors in the College of Education, Health and Aviation. League is a freshman natural resource ecology and management major in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

“KD and Joshua had never been involved with aviation nor piloted an aircraft prior to this competition,” said Matt Vance, flight team coach and assistant professor in aviation and space. “Their finishes are the result of determination and hard work. It was a very impressive performance, especially for our freshmen. Overall, it was a great experience!”

Assisting Vance at the competition were OSU Flight Center staff members Jared Dunlap, chief flight instructor, and Lucy McCollum, flight instructor. 

The next stop for the team is Kenton, Oklahoma, where flight team members will attend a professional development event at Black Mesa State Park. The group will critique the previous season, select leadership for the upcoming semester and perfect their techniques and practices in hopes of continuing their success at the national level.