BEAUFORT, SC (WTOC) -
Students from Battery Creek High School's new "Introduction to Aviation" course got a firsthand look at the aviation field as they toured Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
"I can barely put it into words," said Wyatt Trevithick. "It's just awesome to see, who gets to see (jets). It's awesome. You get a better appreciation for what they do."
As part of the tour, the students talked with pilots and mechanics, learning all about their roles and the jets they use. They even got to experience "virtual flying" at the Air Station's flight simulators.
"It felt real," said Lucas Aguilar. "It felt as if you were really in the cockpit flying a plane that you've seen Ont he flight line or saw on TV."
"I thought it was really cool," said Conner Yahres. "We got to come to the Air Station and see all the planes and stuff. It was a good experience because we got in the simulator and got a feel for flying."
After serving as the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Ret. Marine Pilot, Col. Jack Snider has taken the lead role in introducing aviation to the students at Battery Creek.
"Aviation is the future of the Lowcountry," said Snider. "The key is to develop the workforce of tomorrow. Aviation will produce jobs in the future. We're already seeing that in Charleston, Savannah and in this area with the new Joint Strike Fighter."
It's a program that's generating a lot of excitement with these future aviators.
"The class is just awesome," said Trevithick. "We do a lot of group projects, build model planes, paper airplanes too and test them with different dynamics of wings. It's been awesome."
While this is the first year for the program, Battery Creek is looking to expand the program next year and offer more advanced courses for students with new opportunities.
Although the program is housed at Battery Creek High School, high school students throughout Beaufort County are legible.
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