Students set to take flight today

SANDPOINT — Students in the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program's ACES Workshop recently finished building a Zenith Zodiac CH601XL, a kit airplane donated to the program to help teach students the ins and outs of the aerospace industry.

On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an airworthiness certificate to the students’ airplane, so now, N616SH is cleared to fly.

The students will take their first flight in the aircraft between 9 and 9:30 a.m. today and the public is welcome to come cheer them on.

The airplane, including the engine, was built by middle- and high-school students. The students’ next project is restoration of a 1945 Taylorcraft BC12-D. The group is raising funds and applying for grants to make this historic plane a reality for the students.