Flight team garners gold
School of Aeronautics wins regional competition and advances to nationals
Liberty University soared to new heights as its National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Flight Team claimed victory in its regional competition and fifth place at the last National SAFECON Competition.
Defy gravity — New aircraft and equipment has provided students with new opportunities. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
James Curry, head coach of Liberty’s NIFA Flight Team, described what NIFA is and who participated in the competitions, explaining that the NIFA competition has been around since the 1930s. The competition is split into 10 different regions, Liberty being in region 10. The competitors include Averett University, Caldwell, Guilford Tech, Elizabeth City, Hampton, Lenoir and the Naval Academy.
Curry said he has been participating on Liberty’s NIFA Flight Team for four years — three as a competitor and the fourth as the team’s current head coach.
Curry explained the different competitions in which Liberty’s NIFA Flight Team competes.
“There is one each semester,” Curry said. “So there is a fall regional competition, and then after school or sometimes during finals week, we have a national competition, and that is at various locations across the country.”
Dave Young, assistant provost for aeronautics education and the president of Freedom Aviation, has watched the school and the competition team grow.
“Our NIFA teams from the very beginning have competed strongly at the regional level, having won the regional competitions the last 10 years,” Young said. “They have also continued to gather stature at the national level.”
Young went on to explain the accomplishments of individual teammates from last years national championship, including Zach Floto being recognized as the top collegiate pilot in the country and Curry earning third place as the best pilot in the competition.
Curry spoke of his excitement concerning a double win for the school at the flight competition.
“It was really cool that two of us from the same school were able to do so well and come and coach this year,” Curry said.
Liberty had the top three pilots at the region 10 competition, with Daniel Hartman garnering 143 points, Charity Holland grabbing 123 points and Evan Thomas with 102 points.
Curry also mentioned that the flight team has grown over the years and has developed into a team of 15 people this season. Curry said the budget and equipment have grown dramatically since the School of Aeronautics first opened.
The hope shared by many in the School of Aeronautics is that the flight team will place even better in competitions.
“The goal is to get top 10, if not first place, nationally,” Curry said. “So the stakes are very high.”
According to Curry, there are also very high hopes for the future of the School of Aeronautics.
“The outlook for the School of Aeronautics is very bright,” Young said. “From the beginning, we have stressed quality in all for which we strive, whether it be in our faculty, flight instructors, programs and equipment. We have been blessed, not only in consistent growth, but in garnering recognition as a first-rate university aviation program. Our NIFA teams are a microcosm of who we are, but a very critical element as they represent us among all of the other university aviation programs and in many segments within the aviation industry. I fully anticipate we will continue to grow, add programs and diversify to meet the changes occurring in the world of aviation.”
FOLEY is a news reporter.