Flying through college has a whole new meaning.
Goodrich High School graduates, Justin vonLinsowe and Sarah Sweet, graduated from Western Michigan University’s aviation program in just three years.
‘It was a lot of hard work, but all my classes just sort of lined up,? vonLinsowe said.
Sweet said she went to college with credits already under her belt from advanced placement classes in high school.
‘I took a couple of summer classes and 21 credit semesters,? Sweet added.
The 2006 Martian alumni flew through their required air-time because of their family connections to aviation.
‘I already had flight hours with my dad,? vonLinsowe said, referring to the Cessna 140 plane in his backyard.
Sweet said it typically takes students four years to finish WMU’s program.
‘But I think it is more like five years for kids who fly, because it takes a while to get through the flight side of Western’s program,? she said.
Sweet said she wanted to finish school to get an advantage over the competition.
‘People are impressed when they see a girl with all my flight ratings at my age,? Sweet said. ‘It has opened a lot of doors for me.?
vonLinsowe wanted to get his foot in the door, too.
‘Flying isn’t what you know, it’s who you know,? he said. ‘The more people I can meet, the more opportunities I can get. Who knows where I’ll end up.?
vonLinsowe said he would like to end up somewhere over the Caribbean, flying a charter plane.
Sweet’s ideal aviation job would be running a corporate aviation operation.
‘I think my true calling is on the business side of aviation,? she said.
Sweet is currently working an internship with Aerodynamics, Inc. at Pontiac airport in their flight operations. department. vonLinsowe is flying in Ocean City, Maryland, with Ocean Aerial advertising. Both graduates are happy to be in the real world of aviation.
‘Flying is what I love to do so why be sitting on the ground?? vonLinsowe said.