The National Flight Academy in Pensacola officially opened on May 11, 2012. Designed to teach teens math and science skills, the academy has already received an emphatic two-thumbs up from the teenagers who have tested it. The 102,000 square foot building has been designed to simulate an aircraft carrier with all the sights, sounds and smells to recreate the feeling of being at sea and conducting non-combat missions.
Campers are assigned to squadrons and briefed on missions, like providing post-earthquake relief to a hard hit country. The squadrons compete with each other on their flight and communication skills. They have to calculate their fuel supply, weight of relief supplies, weather forecasts and other factors. Then, something unexpected will oftentimes be thrown in, like survivors in the water, so they have to learn how to deviate from their plan and adjust to unexpected conditions.
One of the advisors says it is good fun, but also serious learning. One of the students noted, “I’ve flown simulators before but these are really cool. They have six screens with all the graphics and having your own co-pilots and all of the other people flying missions with you. I love this place!” Mark Kelly, former shuttle astronaut and husband of Gabby Giffords stated, “I tell you the wow factor is pretty impressive. It’s great to see something like this in Pensacola, the cradle of Naval aviation.” 
Despite being on the grounds of the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the academy strives to be non-military. The focus is on science, aviation and skills in geography, geometry and trigonometry. This summer, teenagers can attend a five day session for $1,250, and when school starts in the fall, sessions will be reduced to three days. However, don’t be discouraged if the tuition doesn’t fit in your budget, as the academy has received $250,000 in tuition scholarship money from the University of Florida and Full Sail University in Orlando. The funding will allow hundreds of students to attend both the three day and five day sessions. There is additional tuition assistance in the discussion stage with several business sources as well.
Registration for National Flight Academy Summer 2012 programs is now open and the following dates are available:
June 3-8
June 10-15
June 17-22
June 24-29
July 8-13
July 15-20
July 22-27
July 29-August 3
August 5-10
August 12-17
August 19-24
August 26-31
Located at One Fetterman Way, you can get more information by calling 850-458-7836 or logging on to www.nationalflightacademy.com
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