Source: Tom Karcz, 785-826-2979, tkarcz@k-state.edu
Hometown connection/news tip: Riley, Syracuse and Wichita, Kan.; Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Dunlop, Ill.; Dix, Neb.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Columbia, Pa.
News release prepared by: Natalie Blair, 785-826-2642, nblair@k-state.edu
Friday, Nov. 2, 2012
Four for four: Flight team headed to nationals for fourth consecutive year
SALINA -- Kansas State University Salina's Flight Team is headed to the national SAFECON competition for the fourth consecutive year after placing second at the Region VI competition, Oct. 7-12, hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla.
K-State Salina won several other awards at the event, including the Safety Award, which is given to one team that demonstrates safety in all aspects of the competition. The Flight Team also placed second overall in both flying events and ground events.
SAFECON competitions feature flight events and ground events that test the teams' abilities in all aspects of flight. Contestants placing in the top 20 in each event earn points for their team. The results of each event contribute to the teams' overall scores. The K-State Salina team had 32 top 20 finishes, and three recognitions for top pilot in the competition.
Region VI includes teams from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
The national SAFECON competition will be hosted by Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in May 2013.
"Making it to the national competition four years in a row is exciting for us," said Tom Karcz, assistant professor of aviation and the flight team adviser. "This is like the March Madness of collegiate flight teams, where we get to compete against the best teams in the country. Our goal as a team is to place in the top five, as we placed seventh overall at the last national competition."
The team received support for competition expenses from the K-State Flying Club and the Connor Burton Aviation Foundation. More information about the Flying Club can be found at http://www.k-state.edu/ksfc. More information about the foundation is available at http://www.burtonaviationfoundation.org.
Flight Team members earning individual awards include:
Tosh Taylor, freshman in professional pilot, Riley, second in navigation and 17th in power-off landing;Joe Englert, senior in professional pilot, Syracuse, third in power-off landing 3, 10th in power-on landing, 10th in top pilot and 13th in simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation.
From Wichita: Cameron Calvert, sophomore in professional pilot, ninth in message drop and 18th in navigation; and Bert Hutchison, sophomore in professional pilot, 18th in aircraft recognition.
From out of state:
Michael Potts, senior in professional pilot, Highlands Ranch, Colo., second in navigation, second in top pilot, second in top scoring male contestant, third in simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation, sixth in power-on landing, eighth in power-off landing, 13th in computer accuracy and 18th in IFR simulated flight; Trevor Henson, sophomore in professional pilot, Dunlop, Ill., second in aircraft recognition and 18th in navigation; Colton Daum, senior in professional pilot, Dix, Neb.,first in power-on landing, first in IFR simulated flight, first in top pilot, first in top scoring male contestant, second in simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation, fourth in power-off landing, ninth in message drop and 14th in both computer accuracy and navigation; Shane Richardson, sophomore in professional pilot, Albuquerque, N.M., 15th in power-on landing; and Ian Barnhart, freshman in professional pilot, Columbia, Pa., 14th in navigation and 20th in aircraft recognition.
