ACES flying high at fly-in

SANDPOINT — The self-proclaimed Continental Team will be displaying their cut-away airplane engine at today’s Sandpoint Airport Fly-In.

Mclenzi Donker, Gabby Irwin, Emily DeGraffe and sisters Sadie, Cecilia and Sophie Dignan are from the ACES club of the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program.

The girls tore apart, cleaned, and rebuilt the engine with cut-aways for it to be a teaching tool. The project was constructed with the mentorship of Ray King, an aircraft mechanic and volunteer program mentor.

“This team of young women are very impressive and the work they have done is fabulous,” said Ken Larson, chief flight instructor and founder of the North Idaho High School Aerospace program.

Also on display by the ACES club is a plane used in World War II which will be used as a flight trainer in future and a plane updated with high tech avionics.

“This program is great for students that wish to pursue a career in aviation or are just interested in flight. About 30 past students that have gone through the program have gone into aviation careers,” said Larson.

The ACES is the NIHSAP club that meets at Sandpoint High School on Saturdays. The program may have high school in its name, but it is open to all students ages from 12 to16 who reside in North Idaho.

The non-profit is funded by donations and volunteers.

The program has three focuses; airplane building and restoration, flight training toward a pilot’s license through Pilot Training Northwest, and a career pathway class at Sandpoint High School.

The class at SHS is the only part of the program that is not open to students outside of SHS. The fly-n is at 1101 Airport Way from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Look for the ACES tent at the fly-in. For more information, go online www.highschoolareospace.org or email Ken Larson at ken@imaxmail.net