SAFECON Region VI Competition in St. Louis: Reflections on a Great Aero Experience

By Carmelo Turdo

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Region VI competition recently held in St. Louis is now part of Midwest Aviation history, and the students have settled into their fall semester academic and aviation activities at their home campuses.  The event, hosted by St. Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology on October 19-23 mainly at St. Louis Downtown Airport, met its objective of providing a forum for college-age aviators to demonstrate their flight skills in a safe, fair and yes, competitive environment.  The Aero Experience was privileged to receive access to document the week's activities for NIFA, the host St. Louis University Flying Billikens, and our growing readership. 

The recent series of feature stories reported the highlights of each day's official activities.  This final installment will include a look at what we saw up close, behind the scenes and around the corner from the hustle and bustle of the competition.  We now share some views of the participants and the surrounding environs that are more candid than the previously published photos.   

Beginning the day with sunrise on the apron and landing at dusk:

The teams prepared for the day's activities in various places inside and outside:

Candid views of participants and staff during the week's activities:

St. Louis University Flying Billikens Team Coach Jack Schwarz demonstrates the proper technique for the precision landing:

 

      



The Aero Experience thanks NIFA, the St. Louis University Flying Billikens, Ideal Aviation FBO, the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, the visiting teams and all who contributed to making this a great Midwest Aviation event!