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The Leading Edge Aviation Foundation of Baxter County recently awarded Cadet Ensign Johnathon Mason a scholarship to attend the National Flight Academy (NFA) in Pensacola, Florida.
The son of U.S. Army veterans Lee and Kelly Mason, Johnathon is a member of the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) of Mountain Home High School where he commands the Drone Team, is a member of the Academic Team and Marksmanship Team, and he has obtained a commercial drone pilot license.
The MHHS NJROTC unit is led by Chief Jason Williams, the Naval Science Instructor and retired from the U.S. Navy after more than 21 years. Jason explains that Johnathon’s experience at the NFA this summer will include living aboard the virtual aircraft carrier, AMBITION.
Each deck of the virtual ship is designed to simulate a modern aircraft carrier. The main deck houses the galley, mess deck, administrative spaces and the aircraft hangar bays. The first deck is dedicated to academic spaces including the operations and intelligence centers, while the second and third decks house sleeping quarters, team building compartments and activity rooms.
The Leading Edge Aviation Foundation (LEAF) is made up of local area pilots who work to gather funds to provide resources to educate, encourage and award financial assistance to people interested in aviation who might otherwise be excluded. In addition to student scholarships like this one, to date more than 30 learner pilots have trained with LEAF instructors and aircraft.
LEAF members also support the Civil Air Patrol Wing of Baxter County and the aviation clubs of the Mountain Home school district. To join this effort and make a tax deductible donation to LEAF send an E-mail to: [email protected].
