Aviation program participates in Top Hawk program

Rendering of Purdue's Cessna 172 for the Top Hawk program.

Purdue University has been chosen as one of the partner schools for Cessna’s 2016 Top Hawk program.

Top Hawk logoThrough the Top Hawk program, Purdue’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology will be given full use of a Purdue-branded Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft for flight training, recruiting and promotional activities.

A select group of flight students and faculty will receive the aircraft in early February in Wichita, Kansas, and fly it back to West Lafayette and the Purdue University Airport.

The airplane will be used to promote the school. Students will fly it to a variety of activities including air shows and recruiting events, according to Casey Hendrickson, the school’s recruitment, placement and events coordinator.

In addition, one Purdue student will join Textron Aviation’s internship program for the Summer of 2016 in cooperation with the Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club. The intern will get exposure to business operations, lead ground school classes, and continue to build flight hours through flying lessons and discovery flights.

The school will plan a delivery ceremony when the exact arrival date for the airplane is known.

Watch coverage of the Top Hawk program on West Lafayette's WLFI.