Royal Aeronautical Society | Schools Build A Plane

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Schools Build A Plane

The Royal Aeronautical Society and the Boeing Company launched an ambitious new project – the Schools Build-a-Plane Challenge – in 2008.

The project aims to provide young people in UK secondary schools with the opportunity to build a real light aircraft from kit and give them hands-on experience of the aircraft build process, understanding along the way the scientific and engineering principles behind flight, as well as developing commercial skills such as project management, problem-solving, team work and communication, with the ultimate aim of taking a flight in the aircraft once it is complete.

Project aims:

•Motivate young people in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through a real-life experience

•Encourage young people’s awareness of the aerospace and aviation sectors, demonstrating their economic importance, and the wide array of related career paths that the sector offers

•Enhance RAeS’ and Boeing’s links with the local community

•Inspire teachers and promote interest in STEM subjects across the teaching community

Schools will be encouraged to bid for building the aircraft kits as a consortium to enable as wide participation as possible and will also be asked to play a key role in disseminating the project to other young people in their areas including underrepresented groups and those in disadvantaged areas.

The Royal Aeronautical Society has established a project management group consisting of volunteers from senior ranks of the Society’s membership.

Look out for news on the challenge – the schools taking part, the aircraft build progress and how their views on aerospace and aviation and related STEM subjects evolve!