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K-State Today

January 3, 2012

Ready for takeoff: Salina campus adds five aircraft to learning fleet

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

The aviation program at Kansas State University's Salina campus has added five new Cessna Skyhawk 172 G100s to the university's fleet of learning aircraft.

"In addition to having the G1000 avionics system, these new planes have autopilot. This means that our students get a well-rounded experience in our Cessna 172 aircraft. They start learning in a gas gauge environment and, as they build flight time, move into more technologically advanced aircraft," said Kurt Barnhart, aviation department head.

"Adding to our learning fleet was important to the program. As we gain students, it's important to gain aircraft to maintain our low student-to-aircraft ratio," said Dennis Kuhlman, CEO and dean of Kansas State University Salina.

The university took delivery of the aircraft in late November and students were able to use them during their last two weeks of classes.