Area students take to the skies as part of Fly to Learn course this summer

One of the 11 students who completed the Fly to Learn course over the summer takes a seat in one of the gliders Aug. 15, 2020, in Eagleville, Tenn. During the 10-week program, each student had the opportunity to take a glider flight with a glider pilot from the Eagleville Soaring Club. (Courtesy photo)

Area students take to the skies as part of Fly to Learn course this summer

Published Sept. 21, 2020
By Deidre Moon
AEDC/PA

EAGLEVILLE, Tenn. -- Students from Coffee County Middle School in Manchester and West Middle School in Tullahoma participated in a 10-week flight course, which concluded in August with glider flights with pilots from the Eagleville Soaring Club.

During these 10 weeks, 11 students took part in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program called X-Plane “Fly to Learn.” Through the program, they studied aerodynamics and engineering related to aircraft flight.

The course is sponsored by the Hands-On Science Center in Tullahoma through a grant from the Air Force STEM program.

“The Eagleville Soaring Club has such a great group of instructors and mentors who assisted the students in their goals of becoming young aviators,” said Olga Oakley, director of education for HOSC and the Arnold Engineering Development Complex STEM program coordinator. “The students had fun during their Fly to Learn course and have been looking forward to actually flying a glider. It’s such a great opportunity for everyone involved.”