The second Wings of Charity Flight program was held at AvTech the week of July 19th through the 23rd, 2004. Last year’s participants will be invited back to continue their training, the ultimate goal of which is give them enough experience and flight time to fly without an instructor onboard. To "solo" requires three years in the program. Last year’s participants will be joined by a new flight of fledgling first year students. Unlike summer programs typically offered by other departments, Southern Illinois Wings of Charity is offered without charge to all participants.

Aviation Technologies hosted the first Southern Illinois Wings of Charity Flight Academy from July 14th through the 18th, 2003. Twenty-three area high school students participated in the event. Activities included career orientation, aerodynamics and related physics, flight planning, aviation weather, and rocketry. The week-long course culminated in a dual cross country, with students piloting the aircraft. Eleven students additionally received aerobatic flights courtesy of Captain Al Englehardt, senior United Airlines Boeing 777 pilot and FAA flight examiner. Courses were taught by airline captains Bill Norwood, Dave Harris, Calvin Allen and Vernon Dury, as well as AvTech faculty member Dr. Charley Rodriguez. The program was created and financed by Carbondale, IL contractor Ken Robinson, and many of the participants were from minority or disadvantaged populations. This was a tremendous experience for all involved and a great way to introduce these youngsters to potential careers in aviation.