Gulf Shores High School Receives Aircraft Donation

OBA Staff • February 18, 2025

New plane enhances pilot training at Gulf Shores High

Gulf Shores Airport Stock Photo

Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores High School's Aviation Academy is set to receive a 2016 TL Sting S4 aircraft, thanks to a generous donation from Vince and Lynn Boothe. The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Matt Akin. The celebration will take place at Gulf Shores International Airport at Jack Edwards Field on Tuesday, February 18, at 9:30 AM.


The Boothes, former owners of Saltair—a flight school at Gulf Shores Airport—donated the two-seat aircraft in December 2024. They previously employed Haley Kellogg, the current aviation teacher at Gulf Shores High School.


Kellogg expressed her gratitude, noting that the aircraft's modern features will greatly benefit students aiming for careers as professional pilots. She highlighted the exceptional cockpit visibility and advanced avionics of the Sting S4.


Dr. Akin emphasized the significance of the donation, stating it will enable the school to offer flight lessons to students. He pointed out that only a few schools nationwide provide such opportunities.


The Aviation Academy provides hands-on learning, connecting academic lessons to real-world applications. Partnerships offer students chances to explore STEAM problem-solving on the Gulf Coast.


During the event, students, faculty, and mentors will showcase the new aircraft, a restoration project, and an aircraft kit build. They will also be available to discuss the program and answer questions.


The event will be held at Gulf Shores International Airport at Jack Edwards Field, specifically in Hangars Tango 1 and 2. Attendants will guide visitors to designated parking areas.

Share this article w/ Friends...

A Work of Art of Orange Beach winner of the 2026 Blue Marlin Grand Championship
By OBA Staff July 24, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — A Work of Art of Orange Beach won the 2026 Blue Marlin Grand Championship at The Wharf. The team became the first three-time winner in tournament history and caught the event’s heaviest blue marlin. The victory came during a tournament that set records for both fleet size and prize money.
Downtown Foley
By OBA Staff July 24, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley Main Street has launched a new community giving initiative, the "Friends of Downtown Foley" program. The effort allows residents and supporters to directly invest in the artistic and cultural growth of the city's historic downtown district. The program was created by the Foley Main Street C
Gulf of America Jeep Fest 2026
By R. Peevy July 24, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Drive around the South, especially near the coast, and you will notice a special group of drivers who enjoy taking off their tops, some who greet you with special waves, and others who even have funny little ducks across their dash. For the Jeep enthusiast, the spirit of adventure is never c
Gulf Shores Police Cruiser
By OBA Staff July 23, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores police officers arrested eight people Wednesday after an armed robbery at a home in the 5500 block of Lemon Tree Lane. The suspects—six adults and two juvenile males—face multiple felony charges. Officers located the suspect vehicle within one minute of responding to the call. N
Makos on Main
By K. Cooper July 23, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools invites students, staff, and the community to celebrate the start of the school year at the annual Makos on Main Parade. The event will be held at The Wharf in Orange Beach and is free and open to the public. Students from Pre-K through 12th grade will march toget
Orange Beach Officers secure a boat that got loose during T.S. Bertha
By K. Cooper July 23, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — An Orange Beach resident, Maria Hawkins, found more than she expected while checking their property Wednesday morning after Tropical Storm Bertha. A boat had washed up near their dock overnight. Hawkins spotted it after waking up and stepping outside to survey the damage. What followed was
Gulf Spanish Mackerel - Photo by Shutterstock
By K. Cooper July 23, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — NOAA Fisheries is inviting the public to weigh in on a proposed rule that would reduce the annual catch limit for Gulf Spanish mackerel. The proposed change is part of Framework Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Reg
Tropical Storm Birtha's Current Position
By K. Cooper July 22, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, was located due south of Dauphin Island and just southwest of Orange Beach as of 4 a.m. CDT this morning. The NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Advisory 12, placing the storm's center near lati
Gulf Shores International Airport
By Erica Thomas July 22, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Officials with the Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF/JKA) broke ground on a $15 million terminal expansion in response to “extraordinary” passenger growth.
Extension - Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities
By K. Cooper July 22, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Watching a cluster of balloons drift over the Gulf may feel like a fitting tribute or a joyful celebration, but researchers say the practice causes lasting harm to wildlife and the environment. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System published a report, warning that every balloon released
Show More