Midwest Distributor Works With Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Stanton Sport Aviation, located just southeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, is a regional distributor for German aircraft manufacturer Flight Design. Stanton is also close to Wisconsin, and recently worked with Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) to provide students with a Light-Sport Aircraft airframe that uses modern materials.

"The donated Flight Design airframe was manufactured using the latest composite materials such as fiberglass and carbon graphite, which will give composite students hands-on experience working on a real aircraft," said Ron Donner, AMTSociety Executive Director and Chief Editor for Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine. Donner also volunteers on the board of directors for Stanton Sport Aviation, Inc. AMTSociety exists to support and promote the profession of aircraft maintenance and has many educational and training related initiatives to educate the next generation of aircraft maintainers.

"The unairworthy airplane was acquired by Stanton from a private owner for its engine, avionics, and various other components," said Donner. "It was deregistered and will never fly again. For the last year, we had the bare fuselage and wings stored in one of our hangars."

"This airplane is built using the same composite materials as many of today's aircraft, making it an ideal training aid for WITC's composite technology program," said Tim Wright, the composite technology instructor at WITC in Superior, Wisconsin. "Students in the WITC program can learn composite repair techniques on real airplane parts." Wright regularly contributes composite repair articles to Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine and had discussed the subject of a training aid with Donner.

"It's great for the college that Ron found a way to provide a useful tool which will give students a chance to work on and repair an aircraft that is comparable to composite aircraft out in the field," said Randy Deli, Divisional Dean-Trade and Technical for WITC.

"We are happy to have one of our airplanes assist in the education of young people," said Tom Peghiny, President of Flight Design USA. "Carbon fiber structures will be used more and more in advanced vehicles going forward and we are proud of Stanton for donating this airframe to WITC." Flight Design has remained the market leader since the sector was created by FAA almost 10 years ago. Near 400 Flight Design LSA are flying around the United States alongside nearly 2,000 worldwide.

FMI: www.witc.edu