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Class in Nassau County teaching students how to take flight

Last year, a surprise donation of a plane to Nassau County Schools opened up an incredible opportunity for students to learn how to fly.

FERNANDINA BEACH, Florida — A new class in Nassau County is taking learning to new heights through a special program that's the first of it's kind.

"It turned out that we are the model for this program so it's exciting and scary all at the same time," says Keoki Gray a flight instructor who also teaches aerospace technologies at Fernandina Beach High School.

Last year, a family in the area saw a news report about Gray’s class and did something very unexpected. Krae and Annie Ellis gave the gift of flight.

"They donated us the airplane, it is amazing to me still," tells Gray.

To their knowledge, that makes Nassau County the only public school system in the state to own a plane used for teaching.

Kolby Kidd is a junior, and while he's excited to have his driver’s license… now there’s a different license he has his eye on.

"I was telling them that I was getting my pilot’s license this year with my high school and everybody was like, “what that’s a thing? That’s insane!” he says.

The students spend the first two years on the ground, flying model rockets, learning about engineering and flying on simulators. Then in their third year – they take to the skies with Gray at their side.

That first flight can be nerve-wracking.

"I was terrified, but my teacher is amazing so he calmed me down and was like let's do it, you got this," tells Nealey Daniels, a senior.

Daniels hopes to have her pilot’s license by graduation and someday be a pilot in the Navy.

Of course, having a plane presents a few challenges; one of which being where to house it.

That’s where the Experimental Aircraft Association comes in. They donated a hangar for the plane at the Fernandina Beach Airport and are willing to help provide financial assistance for outstanding students going after their pilot's license.

Senior, Lilly Johnson, actually already has her pilot’s license. She goes to West Nassau High School. Lilly got her pilot license through an ROTC program over the summer, she says she was actually a little afraid of flying before she did it.

"But once you get up there it is not that bad, you just get used to it," she explains.

Of course safety is top of mind. There are pre-flight checks and re-checks done under the watchful eye of Gray. He says he enjoys seeing students develop a love of flying and also it can be a self-confidence booster for the students.

The road to take-off is a long runway of classes and studying, but ask the students behind the controls and they will tell you it was worth it. 

"You might as well try because it is really fun to fly," says Johnson.

A classroom where the sky is the limit.

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