This Summer marks the 1-year anniversary of Mike Lents' USAF Thunderbird hometown hero flight at the Grand Forks AFB. With airshow season upon us and Mike representing team USA at the World Aerobatic Championships in October 2023 we wanted to show our support and how #UNDproud we are!

"Every two years (2020 excluded), the top advanced aerobatic pilots from around the world gather and compete to determine which country (and which pilot) will be the World Advanced Aerobatic Champion. This event rarely comes to the United States.

I was honored to fly with the 2018 Team representing the US in Romania. Flying a friend and teammate's aircraft, I placed 5th overall, helping secure a Silver for Team USA. The generosity of friends and supporters made that achievement possible.

Competitive Aerobatics is a passion I share with my students at the University of North Dakota as an assistant professor, flight instructor, and coach. The training and experiences from competing at these world-level events will be passed on to future generations of pilots who I hope will also earn the opportunity to fly for Team USA in the future.
- Mike Lents

Mike has a Go Fund Me for World's: https://www.gofundme.com/f/flying-for...

UND Aerospace is a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric research, space studies, and earth system science and policy research. With more than 500 faculty and staff members, 1,800+ students from around the world, and myriad programs and projects, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is setting the pace for the future of flight.

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram:   / undaerospace  
Facebook:   / undaerospace  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNDAerospace?s=20