MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
Middle Tennessee State University’s aerospace
department has been selected by Textron
Aviation to receive a new Cessna
aircraft as part of their Top Hawk
program for 2018.
Textron Aviation will provide a new 2018 Cessna Skyhawk 172, considered the most
popular training aircraft in the world, for use by the university to support
pilot training, promote general aviation and connect future pilots to higher
education.
Through the Top Hawk program, MTSU has use of the new
custom-branded plane from February to September.
Flight instructors within the Department of Aerospace will
showcase general aviation throughout the region as MTSU attends air shows,
participates in summer camps for teens and teachers, hosts a number of aviation
days with area high schools, as well as participate in the Air Race Classic.
“We could not be more excited to partner with Textron
Aviation as part of this program,” said Nicholas
Lenczycki, MTSU Flight Operations program manager.
“Textron is a world-class organization, known throughout the
world for their capable aircraft,” he added. “To be able to provide our
students and community an opportunity to explore general aviation with the
latest technology is just another example of how MTSU provides high quality
experiences to our students.”
In addition to several regional airshows, MTSU plans to
attend the 44th Sun ’n Fun International Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland,
Florida, in April. As one of the largest airshows in the country, Sun ’n Fun
hosts more than 200,000 guests from 60 countries.
“Sun ’n Fun is an opportunity for MTSU to reach students in
a new way,” said Lenczycki. “While we normally have a booth at Oshkosh, the
largest fly-in in the country, being able to fly into an airshow of the
magnitude of Sun ’n Fun is going to attract a lot of attention for the
university.”
Meanwhile, the Air Race Classic is an all-women
cross-country air race. Race teams, consisting of at least two female pilots,
must fly under visual flight rules during daylight hours only and are given
four days to make flybys at each en route timing point and then land at the
terminus.
The 2018 race begins June 19 in Sweetwater, Texas, and ends
in Fryeburg, Maine.
The MTSU team will use the Cessna Skyhawk as their race
aircraft.
“The Top Hawk is a great opportunity for the MTSU aerospace
department,” said Elizabeth Keller,
a senior in aerospace and one of pilots for next year’s Air Race Classic. “I
can’t wait to use the plane for the air race next summer, but, beyond that, I’m
excited to use the Top Hawk to spread the word about aviation and the
incredible aerospace program MTSU offers. We can't thank Cessna enough!”
Established in 1942, MTSU’s aerospace department in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences has grown into one of the most respected
aerospace programs in the nation. Fifteen full-time faculty members, 35 flight
instructors, and more than 700 majors places it among the largest of the nation's
collegiate aviation programs.
Aerospace majors
choose among six concentrations: aviation administration, aerospace technology,
flight dispatch, maintenance management, professional pilot and unmanned
aircraft systems operations. A master's degree in aviation administration, with
concentrations in aviation education, aviation management and aviation safety
and security management is also offered.
The Top Hawk
program is in its fourth year. Joining MTSU as participants in the 2018 program
are the University of Dubuque, Lewis University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University-Prescott and California Aeronautical University.
Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, is home to
the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of
all general aviation aircraft flying. Its principal lines of business include
business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high
performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and a
complete global customer service organization.
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