Bluegrass Aerospace Experience was launched in 2019, bringing together a limited number of students from Bardstown, Nelson County, Thomas Nelson, and Bethlehem High Schools. In its first phase, the students visited the airport throughout the school week to learn about aviation and work together to build a functional Carbon Cub airplane under the direction of Bill Hammond.

Phase 2 of the experience incorporated a flight school in which a select number of high school students are studying and taking flying lessons with instructors and working toward eligibility for their private pilot’s license.

Phase 3 started in the 2021-2022 school year and was a much larger-scale project geared toward providing opportunities to even more local students. This phase included introducing a STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program. The course is a collaboration of several content areas and will award credits in science, English, aviation, and Leadership. The course is currently taught at the Area Technology Center, but is slated to be based at the airport for the 2022-2023 school year with the opening of the new airport terminal. An agreement with Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) provided a comprehensive four-year aviation curriculum. The program is open to students of all four high schools starting in the ninth grade and eventually feeding into larger aviation and engineering programs at colleges and universities.

The Bluegrass Aerospace Experience is a great example of how community partners and schools are collaborating to help students discover and explore their passions and potential.