The Academy, located at the Warren County Airport, 2460 Greentree Road, prepares high school juniors to take the ground certification for a pilot’s license, while training seniors for a variety of careers in the flight industry.
“This is not the career center of 20 years ago,” said instructor Larry Lambdin, a certified aircraft mechanic and avionics instructor.
“A lot of our programs, the focus is higher education. That’s my focus out here.”
Every student who completes the aerospace program earns $1,000 worth of college credits and is offered $3,000 in scholarships at Sinclair Community College, Lambdin said.
“Not only do we teach them to be pilots, which most kids want to do, we also do aerospace occupations training, and that’s where the majority of jobs are.”
In addition, every student enrolled in the program is offered one hour of free flight instruction from John Lane, the academy’s business adviser who started running the airport 40 years ago. Students are also eligible for $500 flight instruction scholarships.
Lane, who has flown with the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, said the academy is “foremost in its field.”
“It’s one of a kind,” he said.
“Schools came from all over when we established the Aerospace Academy, to see how it worked.”
Lane said there are a lot of opportunities in the aviation industry, including commercial pilots who used to be trained in droves by the military.
“We need pilots very badly because we’re running out,” he said. “There are not as many young people learning to fly.”
Enrollment this year is 12 juniors and three seniors (eight sophomores are already signed up for next year).
The students spend half the day at the academy, while the other half is spent taking regular classes at their home school district or at the career center.
For many students, like 17-year-old Chris Piccoli of Springboro, the Academy is a dream come true.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to fly,” said Piccoli, his voice tinged with excitement. Piccoli said the 1986 movie “Top Gun” inspired his career choice.
“I want to go to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduate from there and be accepted to flight school and fly jets off of aircraft carriers,” he said.
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