For the second straight year, the Oklahoma State University Flying Aggies Flight Team placed first in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association SAFECON Region VI Competition, held in St, Louis, Mo., October 19-24. Oklahoma State defeated six other schools to win the region and secure a place in the national competition in May 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.

OSU totaled 522 points, including a competition-best 321 points in Flight Events, and also won the Regional Safety Award. Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha also move on to the national competition with second and third place finishes, respectively.  

OSU team members are Steven Anderson, Joseph Campise, Paulo Claudio, Garrett Dinkins, Paul Downing, Clifton Durante, Rachel Earnhardt, Andrew Edgeller, Dillon Lain, Maxwell Maroney, Lucy McCollom, Benny Miller, Rusty Ridenour, Christian Spear, and Harrison Stegmann. Rick Gladden, Wendal Vaughan, and aerospace administration and operations assistant professor Matt Vance serve as coaches for the team.

Top individual performers included Earnhardt, who was the Top Scoring Female Contestant. McCollom placed fourth in the category.

Downing was No. 4 on the list of Top Scoring Contestants and he was joined by Maroney (fifth) and Ridenour (eighth) in the top 10. That trio also placed in the top 10 for the regional’s Top Pilot Award. Ridenour earned fourth placed, Maroney fifth and Downing sixth.  

Competition events included Aircraft Preflight Inspection, Computer Accuracy, Message Drop, Aircraft Recognition, Navigation, Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation, Short Field Approach and Landing, Ground Trainer and Power Off Landing. 

Link to flickr photos

Link to full results

Data Table

School by Overall Ranking	Points
1. Oklahoma State University	522
2. Southeastern Oklahoma State University	481
3. University of Nebraska - Omaha	439
4. University of Central Missouri	380
5. Kansas State University - Salina	345
6. St. Louis University Parks College	265
7. University of Oklahoma	132

 

Data Table

School Flight Events Ranking	Points
1. Oklahoma State University	321
2. University of Nebraska - Omaha	300
3. Southeastern Oklahoma State University	265
4. University of Central Missouri	203
5. Kansas State University - Salina	192
6. St. Louis University Parks College	89
7. University of Oklahoma	80