Jackson “Jack” Basil of Boerne, a rising junior at TMI Episcopal, made his first solo flight July 2 at New Braunfels Regional Airport. He flew a Piper Tomahawk, completing his solo as the initial required step in pursuit of a private pilot’s license.

Basil was a recipient of a scholarship to the Stinsons Flight Daedalian Flying Training Program. He and TMI classmate Charles “Teddy” Lopez received two out of four scholarships awarded for the program’s 2019 class, which began May 17. Both are members of the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets (JROTC).

Daedalians Flying Training scholarships are sponsored by the Order of Daedalians, a fraternal and professional order of American military pilots, and are administered by the Daedalian Foundation and participating flights (chapters) across the country, at FAA-certified flight schools. Recipients receive ground and flight training necessary to achieve a solo flight in fixed-wing aircraft. The local organization, Stinsons Flight, is named in honor of the family of pioneer aviators, Katherine, Eddie, Margaret and Jack, who were among the first to give flying lessons in the San Antonio area.

Scholarship applicants must have completed their sophomore year of high school and demonstrate the desire and potential to become military aviators. For more information, visit daedalians.org.