Sandpoint, Idaho, October 4, 2025: Middle- and High-School plane builders celebrated an incredible milestone when the Federal Aviation Administration inspected and certified as airworthy two airplanes built by local students, clearing the way for these beautiful planes to start flight testing. Students who worked on the planes were given certificates of achievement from the FAA examiner.

An FAA-approved flight testing program for the two planes follows this certification. Eric Gray, a former ACES student who worked on the Zenith in high school, has qualified for and been selected to be the test pilot for this next phase in both the Van’s RV12 and the Zenith 750 STOL.

North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, Inc., is a nonprofit based in Sandpoint, Idaho, providing hands-on STEM skills training and career pathway experiences for students in Bonner County, Idaho. The program is in its thirteenth successful year and boasts that nearly sixty graduates have moved into aviation careers or are in training now. The program offers an academic class for credit at Sandpoint High School, discounted prices and help with scholarships for flight training, and Saturday airplane building with the ACES Workshop.

The two airplanes certified as airworthy today have been in construction for a few years with middle- and high-school students working under the guidance of experienced mentors. All the mentors are unpaid volunteers working with donations and grants to teach students the skills needed to achieve this incredible goal. Students not only learn STEM skills specific to aviation, but they quickly develop teamwork habits and move into leadership roles—both traits easily transferable to many industries. The ACES students work in rented hangars at the Sandpoint, Idaho Airport (KSZT), and students work year-round on Saturdays from 9:00 AM until about 2:00 PM. There’s pizza for lunch. The program’s overhead costs are approximately $15,000 per year.

As these two planes are completed and certified, work at ACES continues with building a Jabiru J430. This plane is composite construction, with a Jabiru engine and full Sky View instrument panel from Dynon Avionics, in Woodinville, Washington.

The next step for the program is raising funds—hopefully through donations and grants—to purchase another kit plane. If you can help us move forward with a purchase, or you have questions or need further details, please see our website and three-minute video at
www.highschoolaerospace.org
and contact us at
highschoolaerospace@gmail.com.