Nikki, the Top Hawk Cessna aircraft, was revealed Feb. 23 at the ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Airport to students, alumni and friends of ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟβs Aeronautics Program, and to family members of the planeβs namesake. Nikki joins the universityβs fleet of 33 training planes.
ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State was named a 2016 university, one of only four universities nationwide to receive the honor. Each school was awarded a Cessna Skyhawk to use for one year.
In addition to supporting typical flight training operations, the Top Hawk aircraft will:
- Be flown by three of ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Stateβs female pilots as they participate in the 2016 Air Race Classic
- Will be used in the conduct of outreach events in at least 15 states represented by ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State flight instructors and students
- Provide exploration flights for each of the Aeronautics Programβs summer aviation education camps
- Will be featured at the 2016 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Follow #NikkiTheTopHawk on Twitter as she travels the country in 2016 promoting careers in aeronautics.
The aircraft has been named Nikki in celebration of the life of Nicole βNikkiβ Kukwa, a ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State aeronautics student from North Royalton, Ohio, who died on Oct. 23, 2006, after receiving a leukemia diagnosis during her junior year at ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State.
βNikki was instrumental in establishing ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Stateβs Women in Aeronautics Club, was an exemplary student and served as an inspiration to those who knew her,β said Robert Sines, interim dean of ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Stateβs College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology. βA three-day, girlβs aeronautics camp takes place annually in her honor showing her continued, positive influence in aeronautics.β