Flower Bluff students celebrate Hornet Aviation’s first flight; partners pledge future builds

Flower Bluff ISD administrators and partners celebrated the district’s Hornet Aviation program during the June 4 board workshop, describing a student-built airplane’s successful first flights and framing the project as both an educational milestone and a workforce pipeline.

Dr. Stacy Kade introduced the segment and said the first flight media event involved seven seniors who flew and several flybys over the district. "We had seven students, seniors that got to go up in the plane," she said, and added that one graduate who had helped build the plane returned to fly. The district showed a short video of the flights and invited community partners to speak.

Colonel Considine, a military partner who advised students during the project, told the audience the event demonstrates "the power of possibility" when community, industry and education collaborate. A chief flight instructor from the contractor group said he performed checks and signed the airplane as FAA-airworthy before putting it in the sky, praising teacher Kayla Harris and the student team for the build.

District staff said the first plane has found a buyer and that a second plane is planned in about two to two-and-a-half years to expand student opportunities. Partners from Splendid Aviation and the University partners thanked the district and emphasized the program’s potential to launch aviation careers.

Board members and audience members applauded the students and staff; administrators said they will explore second-build funding and outreach to broaden student participation.