Victor Jara-Olivares walks up to a 2005 Cessna C-172S at the Lawrence Municipal Airport. It is perfect flying weather – sunny, with light and constant wind – and he is getting ready for an evening flight over Lawrence.

He spends 10 minutes carefully inspecting the wings and exterior of the small, four-seater airplane before going inside and checking the instruments and flying controls. He must conduct this Federal Aviation Administration required pre-flight check before heading to the sky.

Fifteen minutes later, Jara-Olivares, a Viña Del Mar, Chile, graduate student, is in the pilot’s seat at the end of the runway, ready to take off. He speeds up and charges across the runway before taking flight. Within minutes, he reaches 3,000 feet and is flying over the University of Kansas. He flies over familiar Lawrence sights, such as Massachusetts Streets and Clinton Lake.

“It’s so beautiful,” Jara-Olivares said. “It’s the sensation of freedom, peace and the ability to contemplate how beautiful our planet is.”

Flying has been Jara-Olivares’ passion for eight years, ever since he was a flight test engineer for the Chilean Navy. When he came to the University of Kansas to earn his doctorate in electrical engineering, he flew by himself for two years. When he could not find a flying club at the University, he decided to start the KU Students Flying Club last summer.

“I sent an e-mail to friends brainstorming the idea,” Jara-Olivares said. “A lot of people replied, and we got started.”

In October, the group began meeting to discuss the organization and setup of the club. Their main goal was to encourage aviation interest in the community. They also wanted to provide students with an opportunity to fly at a cheer rate and help students wanting to become pilots to obtain their pilot’s license at a lower cost.

This semester, Jara-Olivares and the members of the Flying Club were able to secure special flying rates for members of the club. The club committed to flying at least 20 hours a month at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, and in exchange, members of the club pay $94 per hour to rent the plane. The regular hourly rental fee is $107.

“The only one who flies cheaper than us is the owner of the plane,” Jara-Olivares said.

To become a member of the club, a person must prove that they have a direct connection with the University. This includes full-time students, professors, staff and alumni and families of those associated with the University. Members must pay a $50 entry fee and a $10 monthly fee.

The club consists of 18 students and two staff members. Members normally meet once a month, either on campus or at the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

Members of the club participate in aerial events throughout the state. The club participated in the All Kansas Air Tour on April 5. The Kansas Department of Transportation organized the air tour, which was a cross-country flight around the state. The Flying Club flew with the tour from Atchison to Lawrence.

“When everyone landed, there was an airplane show so that people could see the airplanes up close,” Jara-Olivares said.

Currently, the club is trying to raise money to buy their own plane, ideally within six months, Jara-Olivares said. The club wants buy an older plane, such as a 1985 Cessna C-172S, which would cost around $60,000.

“I’d like to see the club grow in membership and get its own plane so we can even further reduce the cost of flying and help more people become pilots,” said William Blake, Olathe graduate student and vice president of the club.

The members are seeking donations for the plane, but they are also looking into selling concessions at football games to raise more money.

“Right now, everyone is paying with their own money,” Jara-Olivares said. “We are not going to make business with this. We are a nonprofit organization.”

The process of getting a Private Pilot License can cost $5,000. The FAA requires a person to have a minimum of 40 hours of flying time before a person can become a certified pilot. A pilot-in-training has to pay an hourly rate for each of those 40 hours and also pay an instructor fee. The prospective pilot must also attend ground school and take a knowledge test. The expenses add up.

“How much I fly is directly connected with my wallet,” Jara-Olivares said. “It’s a really expensive hobby, and it’s hard to engage students.”

In addition to flying practice, a person must also study theory to become a pilot. To prepare for the pilot’s knowledge test, a person can pay for formal classes with an instructor, or can tutor themselves. This summer, Jara-Olivares is going to provide guidance for those who decided to use the self-study method.

“I will be saving you money because you will spend less time with the instructor,” Jara-Olivares said.

Logan Smith, a Lawrence graduate student and member of the club plans to start the process of getting a license this summer. He said financial reasons had previously prevented him from obtaining a license.

“It’s an opportunity that I never seriously considered up until this point,” Smith said. “I think it’s neat that Victor has a lot of passion for flying and he’s really put it all behind us.”

For more information on the KU Students Flying Club, e-mail Jara-Olivares at kusfc@ku.edu or visit the group's Web site.

—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina