The flight team came in second in flight events and third overall at the regional competition.
While most Bobcats spend time prowling the bricks, some students would rather be spending their time in the skies.
The Flying Bobcats, Ohio University’s competitive flight team, placed second in flight events and third overall in its regional, collegiate flight competition in Columbus between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2.
That placement qualified the team to compete in the national competition in May, Derek McVicar, assistant chief flight instructor and coach of the team, said.
The flight team competed against the four other schools in its region: Ohio State University, Western Michigan University, Bowling Green State University and Kent State University, Danny Rosenberg, captain of the Flying Bobcats and a senior studying aviation flight, said.
For the national competition the team, composed of about 10 students, will be competing against anywhere from 20 to 30 teams from around the country in more than 10 events, Christopher Swink, treasurer of the team and a senior studying aviation flight, said.
The events the team competes in consistent of ground events and flying events, Rosenberg said.
The ground events are knowledge-based and involve aircraft recognition, simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation and E6B, which is a math-based competition. The flying competitions include two landing tests and a navigation challenge, Rosenberg said.
Trent Lindsay, president of the Flying Bobcats and a senior studying aviation flight, said the team performs better in flying events than the ground challenges.
"We usually do best in flight — the landings, navigation, and message drop are usually are top three," Lindsay said. "The ground events we’re a little weak on that’s one of our main goals, as far as come nationals, to improve on ground events ... which is the un-fun part. Well, I don’t wanna say un-fun. It’s not flying."
McVicar, who is in his first year of coaching, said he has enjoyed the experience and is proud of how the team has been performing.
“It’s a lot of fun, the students pretty much lead themselves,” McVicar said. “They had goals set. They finished second in flight events and third overall, so I mean they did awesome.”
He said the students will improve as they practice in the evenings after classes and most Sundays.
“They have a lot of time to prepare between now and (the national competition),” McVicar said. “They should definitely improve and do well.”
Rosenberg said he was "very happy" with how his team performed.
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McVicar also added that being on the team provides the students with valuable learning.
“It gets students involved, they get to go out and network,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot of fun and they learn more than just the events they’re participating in.”
Students don’t have to be majoring in aviation flight to be part of the Flying Bobcats, Swink said.
“I think we’ve had management majors and a couple engineering majors in the past be on it,” he said.
Students don’t even need to be a pilot to join, Rosenberg said.
“I think a couple freshmen that went with us (to regionals) that aren’t pilots yet,” Rosenberg said.
For Rosenberg, being on the team is more than just a learning experience.
“Flying is something that a lot of us, especially on the flight team, we love it,” Rosenberg said. “We don’t come out here and spend boatloads of money just 'cause. It’s a good way to compete and do something that, you know, you love to do.”
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