LETU 'Sting' Flight Team Takes 4th Place in the Nation, Breaks School Record

[ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE]

05-21-2019

LeTourneau University’s “Sting” Precision Flight Team finished 4th place overall in the nation – the highest overall ranking in LETU program history—at the National Intercollegiate Flying Associations SAFECON 2019 flight competition, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, in Janesville, Wisconsin, May 13-18.

Contributing to the 4^th place 2019 overall score, LETU was ranked 4^th place in Flight Events Championship and 4^th place in Ground Events Championship.

LETU outranked the United States Air Force Academy (5), Western Michigan (6) and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona (7). Taking the top three were large state schools: University of North Dakota (1), Southern Illinois University (2) and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott (3).   

LETU has placed five times in the Top 10, beating last year’s 5^th place overall school record and their 7^th place in 2017. LETU first began competing in NIFA competitions in 2004. LETU’s Sting flight team took 1^st place regionally last October to qualify to compete in nationals.

“Our success is a testament to this team’s hard work and our program’s focus on fundamental flying skills and back-to-basics approach to flying,” said LETU Chief Flight Instructor and NIFA team coach Jered Lease. “God truly blessed the work of our hands, and for that, we're all thankful.”

Taking 1^st place in the Instrument Simulated Flight competition was LETU pilot Thomas Alley who also took 3^rd in the in the Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation (SCAN) competition. Following Alley in SCAN were Joshua Kelly at 6^th, Benjamin White at 12^th, Donavon Taves at 71^st, and Erica Swenson at 105^th. Alley took 4^th in the Ground Trainer competition with Erica Swenson following in 23^rd place. Alley took 4^th in the national Top Pilot competition with Benjamin White following in 14^th.

In the Traditional Navigation competition, Benjamin White (Pilot) and James Hulsey (Safety Observer) took 2^nd place, Thomas Alley (Pilot) and Noah Bronner (Safety Observer) took 4^th place, and Jonathan Rurup (Pilot) and David Erickson (Safety Observer) took 6^th place.

In Aircraft Preflight Inspection Noah Bronner took 7^th place while Jonathan Rurup placed 19^th.

In Computer Accuracy James Hulsey took 4^th place, Jonathan Rurup placed 14^th, and David Erickson placed 49^th.

In Crew Resource Management/Line Oriented Flight Training Jonathan Rurup (Pilot) and Thomas Alley (Navigator) took 4^th place.

In Short Field Landing Joshua Kelly took 7^th place, and Thomas Alley followed taking 12^th place.

Regional Top Pilot awards went to Benjamin White.

Receiving the Outstanding Team Member Award for LETU was Silas Stanton.

LETU placed 10^th for Judges Trophy competition.

Other results for LETU were as follows:

Message Drop

Silas Stanton (Drop Master) and Jeffery Rosinbaum (Pilot) placed 20^th

Simon Awcock (Drop Master) and Benjamin White (Pilot) placed 57^th

Donavon Taves (Drop Master) and James Hulsey (Pilot) placed 64^th

Keenan Yannibelli (Drop Master) and Joshua Kelly (Pilot) Placed 71^st

David Erickson (Drop Master) and Erica Swenson (Pilot) placed 88^th

Aircraft Recognition

Silas Stanton placed 16^th

Simon Awcock placed 30^th              

Keenan Yannibelli placed 42^nd

Jeffrey Rosinbaum placed 78^th

Power Off Landing

Thomas Alley placed 23^rd

Joshua Kelly placed 31^st

Erica Swenson placed 94^th

James Hulsey placed 104^th

Top Scoring Contestant of the top 355 ranked

Thomas Alley, 4^th

Benjamin White, 19^th

Jonathan Rurup, 20^th

Joshua Kelly, 21^st

James Hulsey, 59^th

Noah Bronner, 69^th

Silas Stanton, 106^th

Jeffery Rosinbaum, 145^th tie

David Erickson, 145^th tie

Simon Awcock, 145^th tie

Keenen Yannibelli, 145^th tie

LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines and delivery models at LETU’s residential campus in Longview, Texas, hybrid options at centers in the Dallas and Houston areas and fully online programs. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.

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Categories: Aviation