UND Flying Team captures first place again in regional competition

This is the team\u27s third victory in a row in Region V competitions The University of North Dakota Flying Team won top honors in the Region V National Intercollegiate Flying Association\u27s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) recently. This is UND\u27s third victory in a row in Region V competitions. A winning score of 758 points gave the team first place in flight events and first in ground events. The Flying Team is part of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. The team did what they needed to do and was ready for this air meet, said Lewis Liang, assistant professor of aviation and the team\u27s faculty advisor. Taking first place in eight of the nine events gives the team a great base to build upon and also shows their potential as a young team. The following UND Flying Team members (in alphabetical order) competed in this event: Jacob Alvey –Louisville, Ky Alex Browne-Nazareth, Pa. Glenn Dodd-Eden Prairie, Minn. Jack Foley, captain-Libertyville, Ill. Josh Garner-Aubum, Calif. Brian Lee-Bronx, N.Y. Jamie Marshall, coach-Huron, S.D. Chris Mohan-West Fargo Ross Oleck-Palmer, Alaska Joe Peterson-Grant, Minn. Jacob Smith, captain-Henning, Minn. Justin Therriault-North Pole, Alaska Tyler VanHeel, coach-Elk River, Minn. Travis Wellik-Newton, Iowa This SAFECON was hosted by the University of Dubuque. Teams from Minnesota State University in Mankato, St. Cloud State University and the University of Wisconsin in Madison rounded out the regional field. About the UND Flying Team: The UND Flying Team is a member of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, the sanctioning body for the regional and national SAFECON competitions. SAFECON places a special emphasis on safety of flight operations. The team consists of volunteering aviation student body members who have made a commitment of time and effort to be a part of the team. The team participates in two competitions annually: a regional qualifying competition and the national competition to determine the national championship. About UND Aerospace: UND Aerospace, which includes the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota and the UND Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF), is an international leader in collegiate and contract aviation education and training services flying over 115,000 hours per year in over 120 aircraft. UNDAF also has facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, in conjunction with Chandler-Gilbert Community College; and Crookston, Minnesota, with the University of Minnesota in addition to its home-base in Grand Forks, North Dakota. With more than 1,900 students from throughout the world, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is the second largest college at the University of North Dakota. Undergraduate and graduate programs leading to a variety of rewarding careers in aerospace are offered through five different academic departments: aviation, atmospheric sciences, computer science, earth system science and policy, and space studies. The UND Aerospace training complex is the most technologically advanced environment for aerospace education, training and research in the world