First Posted: 8/7/2013
Matthew Newcomer, of Leesburg, Va., grandson of Rosemary and Bob Kundrat, of Duryea, recently attended the Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home of Space Camp and NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
The week-long educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and decision-making.
Newcomer was part of the Aviation Challenge Mach 1 program, a program specifically designed for trainees who have an interest in military aviation and the mechanics of flight. He spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated F/A-18 fighter jet. The crew learned critical land and water survival skills and mastered Top Gun flying maneuvers.
Along with the crew, Newcomer returned to land in time to hear returned Space Shuttle astronaut Col. Bob Springer speak at the graduation.
