Future Leaders: Bridgeport Students Fly In Plane They Helped Build

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Students from Bassick High School’s Tango Flight program took to the skies last summer in a two-seat plane they spent nearly three years constructing, marking a milestone for the aviation education initiative.

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The flights took place at Three Wing Aviation, based at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, where students, accompanied by family, mentors, and school officials, watched as the aircraft completed its flights. Representatives from Bridgeport Public Schools were also present for the occasion.

Each student received an opportunity to ride in the plane, a Van's RV-12, which was built from a kit.

Tiany Perez, a 2023 graduate who participated in the program, was among those who helped build the aircraft. Inspired by her experience, she pursued a job at Three Wing Aviation working on the line crew.

“Growing up, I didn’t think this was an opportunity that was possible for me,” Perez said. “When I started working at Three Wing, that’s when the aviation world really opened up for me. This is the life I want to live.”

Steve Blume, an auto shop teacher who guided students through the program, emphasized the career benefits of the experience.

“When they finish the program, the students get certified in sheet metal, riveting, drilling—all the skills they learned when building this plane,” Blume said. “And they can get hired right away with those certificates.”

The Tango Flight program at Bassick High School was established by Aaron Hollander, CEO of First Aviation Services Inc. Hollander piloted the aircraft for its flight, guiding students on a route within a 10-mile radius of the airport and along the Long Island Sound.

“I’ve had a love of aviation for my whole life, and I just felt it was a great way to expose the students,” Hollander said. He discovered the Tango Flight program when it was being implemented at select schools, primarily magnet and STEM-focused institutions. He later worked with the governor’s office and Bridgeport Board of Education to bring the program to Bassick, making it the first Tango Flight initiative at an inner-city school.

The program provides students with the materials, tools, and guidance necessary to construct an operational aircraft. Three Wing Aviation assisted throughout the process, including performing final inspections to ensure the plane met Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

“For me, it doesn’t matter if the students go into aviation,” Hollander said. “Regardless of what they do, if they can get the exposure and think beyond the borders of Bridgeport, that was my goal.”