Thirty students from Bartlesville High School’s You Can Fly aviation program experienced the thrill of flight on Friday during an Aviation Discovery Day hosted at Bartlesville Municipal Airport. The event, offered by Plane Bros Aviation of Tulsa, provided students with hands‑on flight time alongside certified instructors, as well as exposure to a wide range of aviation career paths.
“Bartlesville Municipal Airport is proud to host opportunities like Aviation Discovery Day that bring aviation to life for local students,” said Airport Director Mike Richardson. “As a small municipal airport, we serve as a gateway for education, business, emergency response and community growth. Supporting programs like Bartlesville High School’s aviation curriculum helps ensure that the next generation of pilots, mechanics and aviation professionals can begin their journey right here at home.”
Multiple aircraft, pilots, and airport staff participated in the event, giving students the opportunity to sit in the cockpit, learn about aircraft systems, and take part in an introductory flight experience.
Bartlesville High School has offered the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) You Can Fly High School Curriculum since fall 2022. The STEM‑based aviation courses, taught by instructor Ashlee Hightower, introduce students to technical, engineering, and mechanical concepts while opening doors to future aviation careers.
“It was really cool to see students immediately make connections to things we have learned in class to their flying experience and almost every student, after they got back on the ground, asked when they could fly again,” Hightower said.
Plane Bros Aviation is a Tulsa‑based flight training organization dedicated to making aviation accessible, safe and enjoyable for aspiring pilots of all ages. Through its Aviation Discovery Days, Plane Bros Aviation provides students with hands‑on flying opportunities and real‑world exposure to aviation careers, helping inspire the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals.
About Bartlesville Municipal Airport
Bartlesville Municipal Airport spans 430 acres and features a high‑capacity concrete runway measuring 6,850 feet long by 100 feet wide, supported by a full‑length parallel taxiway. The airport averages approximately 12,000 takeoffs and landings each year, serving business aviation, commercial operations, flight training, and general aviation traffic. Its robust hangar portfolio includes 27 T‑hangars and 12 box hangars, reflecting strong regional demand for aviation space. The terminal building serves as the gateway to the facility and is home to Bartlesville Aviation FBO, which provides a full range of services to both transient and based aircraft.
As a key general aviation hub for northeast Oklahoma, the airport plays an essential role in supporting local economic development, emergency services, and aviation education initiatives like Aviation Discovery Day.
