Student-built aircraft completes first flight at California airport
By Ainsley Van Reusen
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YUBA CITY, California (KHSL) — A student-built aircraft took to the skies Saturday morning at Sutter County Airport, marking a major milestone for students in CORE Charter School’s Career Technical Education Airplane Build Program.
The Van’s RV-12iS aircraft, registered as N502TF, completed its inaugural flight at 8 a.m. after being built by students through a partnership between CORE Charter School, AeroSTEM Academy, and Tango Flight.
Students worked alongside aviation mentors and instructors to construct the aircraft while learning engineering principles, aviation safety, problem-solving, and teamwork.
The project was led by retired United Airlines pilot and instructor Dave Lane with support from volunteer mentors. Ten students completed work on N502TF, while a new class of 13 students is already building the program’s third aircraft.
Funding support was provided through the California Department of Education’s Career Technical Education Incentive Grant, with CORE Charter School serving as the lead agency in the grant consortium with AeroSTEM Academy.
School officials said the project gives students hands-on experience while preparing them for careers in aviation, engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades.
Community members, families, aviation enthusiasts, and local leaders gathered for Saturday’s event to celebrate the students, instructors, and mentors who helped make the project possible.
“This flight represents much more than an aircraft taking to the sky,” organizers said. “It showcases the hard work, perseverance, and technical skills our students have developed throughout this extraordinary project.”
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