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Kristin Bass : High-flying student
http://www.kstatecollegian.com

High-flying students from neighboring states land on K-State-Salina campus for aviation competition

October 17, 1996

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region Six Safety Conference was about to begin. Students from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma struggled to awaken for a day they had anticipated for months. "This is the first time the conference has been held in Kansas. We worked very hard getting the events organized," Dave Pianalto, K-State coach, said. Oklahoma University also prepared for the event.

To compete a student must have a private pilot's license. If students are flight instructors, or have been flight instructors, they cannot compete. The top three teams qualifying in the regional are invited to the national. If students do not have a private pilot's license, they can compete in ground events.

Kristin Bass, junior in finance at Oklahoma State University, who has her license, said she also plans to take a flight computer test called S.C.A.N., a test of rules and regulations, weights and balances, and a simulator test. "I grew up in aviation. Both my parents flew as a hobby, and both my grandfathers flew in World War II," Bass said.

Bass also plans to compete in the Power-On and Power-Off events. She said she prefers Power-Off because the plane seems to get closer to the line. This is her first competition but Bass said she felt her teammates have really been supportive. "We've got a really great flight team, really supportive of each other," she said.

Second Lt. Kristin L. Bass

http://www.af.mil/

Second Lt. Kristin L. Bass and F-16 crew chief Tech Sgt. Kevin J. Jones

http://www.af.mil/photos/afie020408.shtml