Yes, you read that headline right—high schoolers in Gulf Shores built a fully functional aircraft and today, it stood the test of the skies. Keep reading for all the details on the successful first flight of “Phin Force 1” and the Gulf Shores High School aviation program.

Phin Force 1

Students enrolled at the Gulf Shores High School Aviation Academy have been working on this plane for a few years—building it from scratch and flying test hours to get the craft approved by the FAA. All that hard work paid off this afternoon when the Dolphin Aviation Phin Force 1 took to the skies.

The craft took off from Gulf Shores International Airport at 10 this morning, piloted by Aviation Academy teacher, Haley Kellogg, with State Superintendant Dr. Eric Mackey riding shotgun. Kellogg is a former commercial pilot who started the Aviation Academy after returning to her Gulf Shores hometown.

Gulf Shores High School Aviation Academy

Img 0726 Aviation Academy, Gulf Shores, Phin Force 1 — The plane-building team. (Gulf Shores City Schools)

The Gulf Shores High School Aviation Academy is a career-tract program at GSHS, where students can earn their drone license and prepare for the FAA written pilot’s exam. The program is open to all students and touches on aircraft maintenance, aerospace engineering and flight mechanics.

Img 0723 Aviation Academy, Gulf Shores, Phin Force 1 — What would a celebration be without a cake? (Gulf Shores City Schools)

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