Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Golden Eagles Flight Team soared to its 39th consecutive regional championship title after dominating the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Region II competition.

The event, held Oct. 21-24 at the university’s neighboring Prescott Airport, saw the Golden Eagles Flight Team compete against top aviation programs, including California Aeronautical University, San Jose State University and Mt. San Antonio College. The Golden Eagles swept both the Flight Events Championship and Ground Events Championship, earning 357.5 total points to earn the overall top position.

“This year’s regional win really showcases how our team continues to push the standard of precision and professionalism in collegiate aviation,” said team captain Ethan Michon. “We’re proud to carry on a legacy built by decades of Golden Eagles before us, and every competition motivates us to raise that bar even higher.”

The Golden Eagles led in nine of 13 event categories. In Aircraft Preflight Inspection, Michon took first place, followed closely by teammate Ian Schiller in second. Team member Samuel Low topped the Aircraft Recognition event, with Myles Kopfle-Maurer, Nolan Boesch, Ethan Kubin and Diego Martinez rounding out the top five.

In Computer Accuracy, Samuel Low, Schiller and Meikha Navalta swept the top three positions. Michon captured first place in the Ground Trainer event, while Schiller led the field in Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation — an event in which Embry‑Riddle students swept the top five spots.

The team’s performance in flight events was equally impressive. Boesch earned first place in Power-Off Landings, with teammate Jamison Wettergren securing third. Low led the Short-Field Landing event, and Jonathan Chen finished second in Instrument Precision Flight.

“Thankfully, the alumni from this team are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced flight instructors that I know and passed down skills that go back years before me,” said Boesch, who ranked second for Top Pilot overall. “My result from regionals has helped me gain confidence, and I know myself and the team can only improve from here.”

Photo of Embry-Riddle Airplane
The Golden Eagles’ retired Cessna 150, “Eagle Two” will go on to be displayed at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/Wilson Van Ness)


A Legacy of Excellence

The Golden Eagles Flight team has also earned 16 national NIFA SAFECON titles, the most in collegiate flight competition history.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the Golden Eagles and what they represent for Embry‑Riddle,” said Parker Northrup, chair of the Flight Department. “Their continued success is a reflection of the dedication of our students, coaches and faculty — and the strong support the team receives from across the department and university.”

Earlier this month, the team held its annual Ring Ceremony to celebrate its most recent national championship. The evening also marked a farewell to “Eagle Two,” the team’s retired Cessna 150, which will be displayed at the San Diego Air & Space Museum — the same museum that inducted the Golden Eagles Flight Team into its International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2017.

“This program’s success is about much more than competition results — it’s about character, leadership and safety in every flight we take,” said head coach Shaun Shephard. “Every student here pushes one another to be better — not just as pilots, but as teammates and future professionals. That’s what truly defines the Golden Eagles.”

The team is now working toward full certification of three new NX CubCrafters aircraft, which were received in late summer. Although the Golden Eagles continued flying Cessna 172s during regional competition, Michon said they aim to transition to the new Cubs over the next several months in preparation for the 2026 NIFA SAFECON Nationals in May.

“The CubCrafters bring new performance capabilities and training opportunities that will help us elevate even further as we defend our national title,” said Michon. “Every new aircraft takes time to learn, but our team is embracing the challenge — we’re excited to see how far we can push our precision and performance with them.”

For the Golden Eagles, success is a blend of technical mastery, teamwork and unrelenting dedication to aviation excellence — values that continue to define Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus.

A correction was made on Nov. 24, 2025: A previous version of this article misstated the number of consecutive championships won by the Golden Eagles Flight Team. It is the team’s 39th consecutive championship, not the 40th. We regret the error.