Hewison Aviation

Instructor Alex Evans teaches all about aviation for RPI’s Flying Club.

Collegiate Aviation

Instructor Alex Evans is teaching a comprehensive ground class for RPI’s student-run flying club. This fourteen-week course is designed to give each attendee a solid understanding of what it takes to be a pilot. It also equips them with all the knowledge they need to take the FAA’s Private Pilot written exam. “I hope we get to do more than just what the FAA wants you to know for the written exam,” Alex said. He has always been drawn to aviation but didn’t view it as a career field until his father encouraged him to learn to fly during the COVID pandemic. Alex earned his private pilot certificate in July of 2021 at Anderson Regional Airport in South Carolina and earned his CFI certificate in September of 2024.

Mr. Evans demonstrates the dangers of spins with a model aircraft.

Sharing the Love of Flight

Alex had to make some adjustments to accommodate teaching to a larger group. “I usually teach one-on-one and now I am lecturing to a group of 30-40 people.” For the first two-hour lesson, Alex taught the club about aerodynamics, the four fundamental forces of flight, flight controls, and basic flight systems. “I love seeing lightbulb moments. When I explain something or I say something a different way and you can see all the lightbulbs going off in the student’s heads.” Alex is looking forward to teaching about cross-country navigation and ground landmark-based navigation. “It blows my mind that this was how aviators navigated back before GPS, it’s difficult and it’s a skill which is lost in the modern age where everyone has a GPS in their pocket.” Alex says his hope for this class is that some of these students “go the distance” and become actual pilots.

Alex takes his time to answer any questions learners may have.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one are interested in aviation and would like to inquire about training you can contact us at Hewison Aviation. If you are an RPI student and want to attend Alex’s future lectures, you can find him in the Darren Communications Center on Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm until April 9th. Information about signing up to take the private pilot written exam can be found at faa.psiexams.com.

Daniel Foster