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U U 9

VISUAL STATEMENT:
MICHIGAN AVIATORS,

F R O M

T H E

Soaring high above Ann Arbor, members
of the Michigan Aviators look down and
view the Big House from the best vantage
point in town. This is why they fly - the simple
t. calm that exists in a plane, rising above all of
the problems that lie at ground level.
Engineering senior Sandro Salgueiro
formed Michigan Aviators this year to provide
a new club for aviation enthusiasts. The club
regularly takes flight trips across the region.
On Nov. 15, they ventured to Kalamazoo
to enjoy lunch at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek
International Airport's Air Zoo, a museum
dedicated to showcasing the history of aviation
through full planes that reside in its massive
hangars.
I was given the privilege of riding along
with the clubs assistant flight ops director,

alumni advisor and recent engineering
graduate, Mike Stengel. Stengel, who has
logged over 375 flight hours in his flying career
since the age of 12, took us to new heights in a
Piper PA-28R Arrow.
The plane itself was cozy on the inside,
with elbows frequently bumping. However, the
experience of being able to sit in front of the
controls of a plane and look out and see Ann
Arbor in such a unique way was well worth
waking up early on a Saturday morning.
There is a certain peace that exists when
flying 5,000 feet above the ground at a quick
160 knots, crossing Michigan and looking
out over the clouds and landscape below. The
Michigan Aviators are open to anyone, with
flight trips multiple times per semester as well
as events back on the ground.