The West Point Aviation Club hosted the annual Interservice flight competition at the 2nd Aviation Detachment hangar from 14-16 April. The event, modeled on National Intercollegiate Flying Association rules, featured cadet and midshipmen pilots from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy competing in flight and ground events. The flight events consist of precision landings, a cross-country navigation event, and a message drop event. The ground events included:
Mr. Don Arns, the manager of Stewart Airport and the parent of a current first-class cadet, provided outstanding support for all of the flying events. The local West Point parents club also helped by setting up a tailgate and serving lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
The West Point team did exceptionally well in the competition, taking the top overall team position and earning a Blue and Gold Star in the process. In addition, Brad Diller '25 and Hannah Lamb '23 came in first and second in the overall pilot category. Diller '25 and Sam Budoff '25 also took the top position in the Navigation event, finishing only 10 seconds off their planned time after flying a cross-country flight for roughly an hour.
To conclude, over 60 cadets, midshipmen, coaches, judges, and family members enjoyed a great weekend of flying, friendship, and camaraderie over a shared love of flying. Most importantly, the event was extremely safe, with all the competitors successfully completing nearly 300 total landings and multiple cross-country flights.