Today, he works for North Star as an instructor. He says he’s noticed a definite change during the last six to eight months.

“In a very short time,” he said, “there’s been a major shift in morale and the classes have gotten better ... When students come through here now, I don’t have to teach them as much.”

Jeff Beaudry, another former student and current flight instructor, said the program’s troubles during the past few years have taken a toll.

“I talked to one student today who didn’t even know we had an aviation program,” Beaudry said. “Our main purpose out here (on the mall) is to show off the new airplane. We’re trying to get rid of the bad taste people may have about the aviation program.”

Ruedy said that the rough years resulted in many students who came to MSU for aviation enrolling in other majors. Now, he said, they’re starting to come back. And while no one in the program was ready to give numbers, they’re hoping next fall’s beginning aviation class will be double the size of last year’s incoming 30 students.

One of those students who bypassed aviation is Ben Deitner. He’s a senior now who has majored in law enforcement, engineering and other disciplines, but his first choice had always been aviation.

“All the instructors are there for you,” he said.

And the new planes ain’t bad either.

“The Diamond is the only plane I’ve ever flown,” said Deitner, who is close to getting his private pilot’s license.