Flight class checks out helicopter

Former Sisters High School (SHS) student Michael Williams returned to his alma mater in style on Tuesday, April 29. He landed a Robinson R44 helicopter on the lacrosse field.

Williams is completing his commercial helicopter training with Leading Edge Aviation in Bend. He and his instructor, Matt Haggendorin, brought the helicopter to Sisters so that the school's flight sciences students could get a little insight and inspiration.

"These guys are going to get a tour of this helicopter; they're going to get to watch a pre-flight," said Jon Renner, who leads the program at SHS.

Rob Corrigan's physics class also observed the landing, tying it into discussions of modeling and "finite element analysis."

Haggendorin talked about the differences in flying a helicopter versus a fixed-wing aircraft and spoke on some of the career opportunities available to helicopter pilots. Haggendorin is an instructor and also flies tours at the Grand Canyon.

The flight sciences students gathered around the craft as Williams, just a few years older than they are, explained the cockpit layout and the instruments.

Upon successful completion of the flight sciences class, the students will have finished all the ground-school requirements needed for their private pilot's license. Sisters Eagle Airport is a full partner in this program, making their facilities available to the class whenever necessary.

The SHS program is connected with the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) aviation program in such a manner that in a year-and-a-half at COCC the students will be able to get not only their private pilot's license but also a first-level commercial license. This will allow the students to get an entry-level job with a regional carrier.

Flight sciences is one of a growing number of volunteer-staffed and privately funded electives on offer at Sisters High School. The health sciences program and fire sciences programs are also largely volunteer staffed and funded, as is the initial program in this format, the "Pursue Your Passion" entrepreneur program.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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