By Dr. J.D. Rottweiler
Cochise College’s 50th anniversary has proven to be a great time to reflect on the past and look toward the future.
Late last fall, it came to our attention that a home was sought for an aircraft known as the Douglas Glider. According to reports, the original glider was built in downtown Douglas and flown out of Camp Douglas, an active U.S. Army outpost from 1910-1933. It’s also been reported that the glider evolved from a plane with a horse-drawn liftoff to one used in the 1910-1919 Border War.
This month, the college Aviation Department became the new home of a replica of the Douglas Glider, reconstructed in Phoenix of rattan and bamboo, with metal fittings and fabric covering the wings. It now appears in the hangar and symbolizes the city’s place in Arizona’s aviation history; Amelia Earhart swung by Douglas International in 1929.
The glider also will be a conversation piece at an anniversary event planned on March 27. On that day, the Aviation Department opens its Douglas Campus doors to local residents, alumni, and industry partners for a day of tours, static displays, introductory flights ($60 each) and free simulator time, plus airline forums, industry news and aviation partner presentations.
Later that evening, the Sierra Vista Campus welcomes special guest Elaine Larsen, driver of the Miller Welds jet dragster (a car powered by an aircraft engine), as she presents at the Aviation Department’s first fundraising dinner, open to alumni, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone who wishes to support the success of students in the Aviation Department. Tickets are on sale through March 13 through the Cochise College Foundation, with details available on the anniversary schedule at www.cochise.edu/50.
The college aviation program started early in the life of the college. Alumni are employed with major airlines, law enforcement and in industry jobs around the world, and I have met many local residents who also have earned credentials through the program.
Students enrolled in the flight program this fall will have access to six new aircraft. The college is also in the process of acquiring a CRJ700 flight training device that will allow it to provide advanced training toward the completion of the new Federal Aviation Administration Restricted ATP Certification, as well as key components of the type rating training for the CRJ700.
All of this is being done to prepare for an exciting future for students pursuing aviation training at Cochise College.
So if you’re interested in aviation history, are considering an aviation career, are thrilled by the rush of the engines, or you just want to discover and support a “hidden gem” of Cochise County, mark March 27 on your calendar and be sure to make a trip to Cochise College.
J.D. Rottweiler is president of Cochise College. Contact him at jdr@cochise.edu.