05/22/2026
PIREP from Golden Eagles Team Captain Ethan Michon of Embry-Riddle Prescott. ✈️
Last fall, Embry-Riddle Prescott added three NXCubs to its precision flying fleet, and this marks the first time we’re seeing them compete at the National NIFA SAFECON event. The Golden Eagles are utilizing the NXCub in message drop and precision landing competitions, including both power-off and short field landings.
Ethan was part of the committee that helped determine the team’s next aircraft platform. The goal? Find an aircraft with plenty of flaps, capable of carrying full fuel and two people while still performing at density altitudes above 9,000 feet.
“The NXCub checked all of those boxes and then some.”
After retiring their longtime Cessna 150 competition aircraft due to an aging fleet and increasing difficulty sourcing parts, the team spent time competing in Cessna 172s during the transition. Now, the future looks bright for the Golden Eagles and precision flying in the NXCub.
Today also marks Ethan’s final landings with the team. A recent graduate, Ethan competed in 3 NIFA Regionals and 4 NIFA SAFECON Nationals and shared that NIFA has been one of the best experiences of his college career. Congratulations, Ethan, on graduation and your upcoming class date with Republic Airways. We’re excited to see where aviation takes you next! ✈️
What is NIFA SAFECON?
This week, 31 collegiate aviation teams gathered in Moline, Illinois, for the 2026 National SAFECON competition hosted by NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association). Widely considered the “best of the best” in collegiate aviation, teams compete in both flying and ground events, testing precision, discipline, teamwork, and aviation knowledge. National champions will be announced tomorrow night.