|
Precision Flight Team Receives Prestigious Trophy |
|
Written by Chris Robison
|
|
Friday, 15 April 2011 |
The Kent State Precision Flight team won the highly coveted award at the
National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s 2010 SAFECON (Safety and
Flight Evaluation Conference) competition in Terra Haute, Ind.
The pure silver, Tiffany-designed Loening Trophy was commissioned and
first awarded in 1929 when aviation pioneer and inventor Dr. Grover
Loening saw a need to annually recognize the most outstanding
achievements of today’s college aviation programs. Dr. Loening, who was
the first aeronautical engineer for the Wright Brothers, asked his
friends and famous pilots Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Navy
Commander John Towers to assist Loening in judging the first
competition. The original Loening Trophy is still awarded today and is
considered the most prestigious award at the annual SAFECON competition.
The award represents superb achievement in aeronautical skills and
represents the current benchmark for an overall outstanding collegiate
aviation program. Keys for selecting the award recipient include
emphasis placed on academics, community involvement, aviation skills and
their advancement, a comprehensive safety program and professionalism
combined with a proactive enhancement of the future of aviation.
The Loening Trophy will be on display in Van Deusen Hall beginning April
18 until early May when it will be returned to the SAFECON event in
Columbus, Ohio, for the 2011 competition.
|
