OSU Flight Team Hosts Aviation Merit Badge Day

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

The Oklahoma State University Flying Aggies Flight Team recently hosted Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for its second annual Merit Badge Day. The day included a full slate of activities in which current OSU students shared their passion for flying and taught the scouts about all things aviation.

In total 21 Girl Scouts and seven Boy Scouts from across Oklahoma participated. The event was led by flight team members Zach Alstatt and Jacob White under the supervision of faculty adviser Dr. Matt Vance.

Students got hands-on experience throughout the day, visiting stations designed to teach them about aircraft pre-flight, glider assembly, aircraft engine and control services, air traffic control and careers within the aviation industry. Groups had the opportunity to use the flight simulator and tour the program’s training aircraft. At the end of the day, scouts were tasked with making small gliders and competed to see whose flew the furthest. The top nine scouts won a plane ride with members of the flight team.

“I personally taught the groups about aviation maps and how we as pilots use them every day,” said Alstatt. “The entire event was a genuinely awesome experience for all involved. I believe that all of the participants truly left with a newfound appreciation for the aviation industry.” 

The flight team hopes to continue to serve the community and promote aviation through this event, and they look forward to involving more scouts in the future.