Sponsorship & Scholarship

Mid North Christian College Aviation Course

February 2025

For the last twenty years, the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund has played a vital role in supporting Mid North Christian College (MNCC) Aviation in Port Pirie. The Fund’s contribution has enabled generations of students to explore aviation pathways, gaining hands-on experience and develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue careers in the industry. This partnership has contributed to the growth of regional aviation education in South Australia.

History of the Course

MNCC welcomed its first class in 2008 after gaining the first funding conveyance in 2006 to purchase the necessary tools and materials in order to get started. Students attend MNCC in Port Pirie from all around South Australia for a one week intensive each term where they complete their studies. They have the chance to discover through four distinct areas of interest which include practical flight instruction, aviation engineering, basic aeronautical knowledge and history and industry.

MNCC has, as of 2024, received $1 Million towards offering this course and continue to welcoming a new class of students every year since 2008.

Here are what students say about the program:

The part of the course that I have enjoyed the most so far has been the flying lessons and the time on the flight simulator. Another part of the course that I have found to be very valuable is how it has broadened my view on the available jobs, not only as a pilot but in the aviation sector altogether. Some of the jobs that the course has enlightened me on that I have a potential interest in, including Fire Bomber Pilot, RFDS Pilot and engineer.

Below, I have attached some pictures from the cockpit of the training plane and of some of the work I have completed through the course.

Thank you for the funding of this course and the opportunities it has provided for me.

Kind Regards,

Mitchell Quinton

From a young age, I have been deeply intrigued by aviation and the many career pathways it offers. When my mum heard about this program from a close family friend who had taken part the previous year, she shared it with me knowing my passion. I immediately recognised it as an opportunity I did not want to miss.

Over the past three terms, this course has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and provided experiences far beyond what my regular school curriculum could offer. Visiting the RFDS base at Adelaide Airport, SAPOL Air Wing, Aero Service, and FlightOne Academy has given me invaluable insight into the aviation industry. One of the most rewarding parts of this program has been the new people l've met. I've made friendships with classmates who share the same excitement for aviation, and I've had the chance to speak with industry professionals who have been so generous in sharing their stories and advice.

These connections have made the experience even more meaningful and have shown me how inspiring it is to be surrounded by people who share your passion.

It has long been my ambition to become a fast jet pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force, and this program has only strengthened that aspiration. To work towards this goal, I have chosen subjects such as Physics and Mathematical Methods to build a strong academic foundation. However, this program has been the most influential part of my learning journey, combining aeronautical engineering, practical skills, and theoretical flight

principles into one enriching subject. I know several of my classmates share similar aspirations of flying fast jets, and you might see how ambitious we all are. Regardless of where our futures lead, whether into aviation or other fields, I want to sincerely thank you for giving us such a valuable head start and for providing lessons we will carry with us for life.

I will always be grateful for the incredible opportunities this program has given me, made possible by your support. The experiences, lessons, and connections I've gained will stay with me as I look to turn my ambitions into reality.

Yours sincerely,

Tahlia Ramos

I have really enjoyed attending the course this year. There is a wide variety of activities, which means that you can decide what facet of aviation most interests you. I also appreciate the exposure to Australian aviation rules and practices, which aren't discussed in the many British and American publications.

In the course, I especially like the metalwork tasks. There is great satisfaction in starting with a flat piece of metal and building something that could be a piece of a real aircraft. Recently, I have been working on a wing nose rib. Building this involves marking out a piece of aluminium, cutting it, and bending one side. Then I hammered down the other edges with a soft hammer and used fluting pliers to flute them. I also had to learn how to flush rivet. Of course, I had to employ other skills learnt in previous tasks, such as filing, edge treatment, and hole deburring. I think aviation engineering is something I might be interested in.

I also enjoyed the excursions, especially our visits to the South Australian Aviation Museum

and the RFDS at Adelaide airport. At Flight Training Adelaide, we got to try out their new Airliner simulator, which was fun. One great thing about this course is that you get professional tours around aviation businesses. The contacts are worth a lot. I can't imagine being received with favour if, for example, I walked up to SAPOL at Adelaide airport and asked to sit in their helicopter (something I got to do).

I appreciate the funding for the aviation course from the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith fund. I feel honoured to benefit from the achievements of such great aviators.