LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A group of aviation students at Shawnee High School got an up-close look at airplanes. Some even had the chance to fly the planes!

The sophomores talked to Flight Club 502 members at Bowman Field. They learned about career opportunities, how to get a private pilot's license, safety and how the planes work.

Afterward, they flew in the airplanes.

The students have been learning about aviation all year. They coupled the knowledge they have learned in the classroom with real world experience, Wednesday during day trip to Bowman Field.

"I've been really reading the books and doing the simulators," said Shawnee High School Student Lariah Brewer. "When I was up there it kind of clicked more. Because when I was reading, 'I thought oh this is so confusing I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this.'"

Brewer, who is an aspiring flight attendant, said this was her first time flying.

"It was like actually really great," she said. "It's an amazing thing to experience. At first, I was really terrified because I've never flown before."  

Once she and the pilot made it through the turbulence, she began to enjoy the flight

"In the back it's wobblier," said Brewer. "I felt it in my stomach. I'm like, 'oh my God, am I about to fall out of the air?' But when you get in the front it's like way calmer. You can see what you're doing."

James Moore, who is the Instructional Lead Jefferson County Public Schools, said the goal is to keep the students engaged by allowing them to be more hands on.

"We want students to be hands on," Moore said. "Instead of just talking about it in the classroom we want kids out doing it because we know they will learn a lot more and it's a lot more engaging."

The students can earn flight hours through the Shawnee Aviation program which will help them get closer to receiving certification for a pilot's license.

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