High school students in the Ignite Aviation-Air Mobility program are spending half their school day at Thaden Field (Bentonville Municipal Airport) constructing a functioning RV-12 airplane. The hands-on project offers unparalleled, job-ready experience.
The Details:
Real Project: The two-year program involves 40 students who are assembling the RV-12 from a kit, learning official aircraft manufacturing skills and following complex technical manuals.
Industry Standards: Once complete, the aircraft must be inspected and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for flight.
Sustainability: The finished plane will be sold, with the revenue funding the next kit, creating a sustainable, cycle-based learning model for future cohorts.
Career Prep: Students also learn flight planning, use flight simulators, and network with industry professionals, providing a direct path to careers in aviation and air mobility.
The Bottom Line: This Profession-Based Learning approach moves students beyond the textbook, providing a unique environment where they develop technical expertise and the professional skills needed to make a "more-informed decision" about pursuing a career in high-demand aviation fields.
Media Highlight: KNWA Article