Cleared For Takeoff

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF


Where Curiosity Becomes Confidence

When students walk through our doors, they are CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF into a world of discovery. 

MEET BROCK

Brock grew up watching airplanes cross the sky above Charlotte. Like many young people who love aviation, he wondered what it would feel like to sit in the cockpit and guide a plane through the clouds. But dreaming about flying and knowing how to get there are two very different things.

That changed when Brock joined the Flight Forward program at Sullenberger Aviation Museum.

Seeing a Pathway Forward...A Flight Forward...

His journey began inside the museum’s hangar, standing beneath historic aircraft and learning about aviation careers. Soon Brock was sitting in a flight simulator, hands on the controls, feeling the excitement of guiding an aircraft down a runway for the first time.

Flight Forward helped Brock see aviation in a whole new way.

He toured the UNC Charlotte College of Engineering, learning about the academic paths that lead to aviation careers. He met aviation professionals from American Airlines who shared their stories and answered students’ questions about life in the cockpit and careers in the industry. One highlight was touring an aircraft maintenance hangar at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where Brock stood just feet away from the massive aircraft he had only watched from the ground.

slide 1

Resume Slideshow

slide 2

Resume Slideshow

slide 3

Resume Slideshow

Your Gift Makes These Pathways Possible...

At school, Brock also participated in resume workshops, financial literacy training, and confidence-building sessions that helped him prepare for the future.

Then came one of the most unforgettable moments of the program, his Discovery Flight. As the plane lifted off the runway and climbed into the sky, Brock experienced something powerful. The dream that once felt distant suddenly felt possible.

Brock was selected as the 2024 Sullenberger Aviation Museum Scholarship recipient and is now an Aviation Scholar at Auburn University, continuing his journey toward a career in aviation.

But there are many more students like Brock who are still waiting for their chance to take flight.

Your support makes these opportunities possible.

  • equips students with hands-on STEM tools used during Flight Forward experiences.
  • supports a student’s immersive aviation education at the museum.
  • helps students explore aviation careers through field trips and industry exposure.
  • provides discovery flights and workforce exploration opportunities.

With your support, we can help more dreams take flight.