Area event introduces STEM students to careers in aviation, engineering

DAYTON — An event at the National Museum of the US Air Force hosted Miami Valley STEM students, providing them with a hands-on learning experience in aviation on Friday.

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News Center 7’s Mason Fletcher attended HeliStorm 2025 to see students put their learning into action on News Center 7 at 5:00.

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HeliStorm 2025, held May 29 through June 1, provides STEM students the opportunity to connect with aviation professionals as well as earn scholarship money for their school.

The top 3 schools with the most students at the event split a $5,000 scholarship.

HeliStorm event organizer Michael Kranitz said students have the opportunity to talk to pilots and learn more about aircrafts.

He said the flying machines are like video games with consequences and hopes to inspire young people with an interest in the aviation industry.

“What I hope they get out of it is a new discipline that they didn’t know about,” Kranitz said.

Pilot Ben Richardson said he’s been flying for over 20 years. He said his obsession with aviation began when he saw someone fly one in a park near where he lived.

“I always liked the challenge. So the challenge was what kept me in the hobby,” Richardson said.

This is the first year of the HeliStorm event, but Kranitz said he hopes to keep it going to combat the national pilot shortage.

“If this program does what I wanted to do, it’ll grow into a national program that’ll help bring more recruits into the industry,” Kranitz said.

Richardson told News Center 7’s Mason Fletcher that he mentored a young man years ago who went on to be in the Air Force and is now a commercial pilot.

Richardson and Krantiz said they believe this is the type of inspiration this event can create.

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