Blountsville teen John Willoughby was among the 22 top students who learned how to fly airplanes at the Civil Air Patrol Flight Academy. 

The Southwest Region Powered Flight Academy took over Shawnee Regional Airport in Shawnee, Oklahoma this week, with students between the ages of 16-19 and members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) participating.

The cadets complete a rigorous, competitive selection process at the national level, with only 22 students selected to attend the academy in Shawnee.

The training brought out students from all across the United States including Alaska, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The CAP instructors who participate donate their time and skills to teach students how to fly Cessna 172’s and Cessna 182’s. There are typically eight powered flight academies throughout the summer in the U.S. hosted by the Civil Air Patrol.

When students finish the course of hands-on flight instruction and approximately 25 hours of ground school instruction, the goal is to have each student solo an aircraft.

Some students have aspirations of continuing to fly as a hobby and some intend to seek careers in aviation and or the military. Many of the students apply and have scholarships to attend the academy which costs $800, plus travel expenses to and from the location they are selected to attend.

If you would like more information about the Civil Air Patrol, you can go to gocivilairpatrol.com.