Franklin, TN — An eighth-grade aerospace course offered at both Freedom Middle School and Poplar Grove Middle School has become so popular that more students want to enroll than the program can currently accommodate.
Now, an $18,491 grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division will help Franklin Special District expand the advanced flight training available to students at both schools.
The funding will add a second aircraft configuration to one of the district’s two Redbird LD flight simulators. Students who have mastered the introductory and intermediate classroom simulators advance to the Redbird LD model, where they encounter more complex controls, aircraft systems, and flight scenarios.
The new equipment will allow students to compare two types of aircraft and explore concepts associated with multi-engine, high-performance, and retractable-gear planes.
“This grant allows us to extend student learning well beyond an introductory flight experience,” said Dr. Mary Decker, FSD associate director of schools for teaching and learning. “By exposing students to the systems and demands of different aircraft, we are giving them a broader understanding of aviation and a stronger foundation for future coursework, training, and careers.”
FSD offers Tennessee’s only middle school aerospace program. Students complete a high school credit course before entering ninth grade, an opportunity that has generated strong interest and a growing wait list among students eager to participate.
The program was launched through a $1 million Innovative School Models Grant from the Tennessee Department of Education, which has funded the courses, equipment, flight simulation technology and related professional learning for the past three years. The new TDOT grant adds another layer of advanced training to that investment.
In the classroom, students learn aviation principles, navigation, flight planning, aircraft controls, and operational decision-making. They also explore careers ranging from piloting and engineering to aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, and airport operations.
“Our Introduction to Aerospace course is designed to spark curiosity and help students discover a lasting interest in aviation,” aerospace teacher Chris Dollar said. “They are still years away from choosing a college or career, but early exposure matters. By helping students see the possibilities now, we can begin building the pipeline of future graduates who will consider aviation and aerospace careers.”
For families, the course offers more than a chance to try a flight simulator. It gives middle school students an early look at a growing industry and a reason to begin imagining where their interests could take them.
The TDOT Aeronautics Division Aviation Education Program is a competitive, fully reimbursable grant initiative designed to advance aviation and aeronautics education, workforce development and public engagement throughout Tennessee
Franklin Special District is a prekindergarten through eighth-grade public school district serving the families of historic Franklin, Tennessee, across eight schools.
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