Aviation

Aviation was first introduced into the school curriculum at Kent Street Senior High School in 1979.  The single class comprised some twenty-seven year 11 students, many of whom had come from outside the school catchment area to attend this inaugural course.

In August 1982, the school purchased its first aircraft - a Cessna 152 training aircraft.  This was the first aircraft bought and operated by a high school in Australia.  VH-WIF was used for student flying and familiarization flights.  Flight was introduced to the school curriculum in 1988.

The school bought its second aircraft - another Cessna 152 training aircraft in March 1989.  By 1990, Aviation Studies was taught in all five year levels and boasted some 140 enrolments.

In July 1990, aviation students at Kent Street Senior High School commenced work on the construction of a Hughes Lightwing aircraft.  This project was the first of its kind in Australia. Taking nearly 4000 student hours to build, this aircraft was unveiled in July 1992 and first flew in September of that year.  The Lightwing was later sold to help off-set the purchase price of the school's second student built aircraft - a Vans RV6- A aircraft.

In 1994, the state Minister for Education officially opened the first purpose built Aviation Education Centre in the Southern Hemisphere. Comprising a lecture theatre, classroom, seminar room and aircraft workshop, the building can accommodate three classes simultaneously.  Equipped to address the needs of all aviation students, the Aviation Education Centre is a world-class educational institution.

During 1994, the school was fortunate to obtain a large aircraft hangar.  Designed to accommodate two corporate aircraft or four light training aircraft, the hangar was donated to the school by Albany business woman, Ms Joan Terry.  Today the hangar is erected at Jandakot Airport and houses the school's three aircraft.

In May 1999, the Aviation Department purchased a Cessna 172P four-place aircraft.  The purchase of VH-HQL was considered essential to the continued development of the program.  Not only did it allow the aviation staff to take students on extended air experience and navigation assessment flights, it also gave senior aviation students the opportunity to undertake formal navigational training in a quality aircraft at a greatly reduced rate.

On September 4^th 2003, the Aviation faculty at Kent Street Senior High School celebrated another major achievement - the inaugural flight of its second student-built aircraft, a Vans RV6-A. Taking some 8,500 student hours and 11,000 rivets to construct, this ambitious project provided an opportunity for some 150 students to gain valuable experience in aircraft construction.

During 2004 and 2005, aviation students from Kent Street Senior High School worked collaboratively with third year engineering students from the University of Western Australia to construct another Vans RV6-A.  The inaugural flight of this aircraft occurred during September of 2006.

Since late 2006, aviation students have been working enthusiastically on constructing the school's fourth student-built aircraft - a 4 seat Vans RV10.