{"id":5124,"date":"2023-01-11T10:03:30","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T10:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk\/science-engineering\/?p=5124"},"modified":"2026-02-03T10:55:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T10:55:39","slug":"passing-with-flying-colours-training-the-next-generation-of-aerospace-engineers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sites.se.manchester.ac.uk\/science-engineering\/2023\/01\/11\/passing-with-flying-colours-training-the-next-generation-of-aerospace-engineers\/","title":{"rendered":"Passing with flying colours: Training the next generation of aerospace engineers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The shadow of Mount Snowdon is perhaps not the first place that comes to mind when you think of aerospace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet it is here, in Eryri in the remote Welsh countryside, that the next generation of aerospace engineers are being equipped with the skills they need to design future drones, aeroplanes and rockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre is a sprawling complex that hugs the Welsh coast. Boasting several active runways, the base is used for charter planes, helicopters and the occasional commercial craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June, it was also the home of some 100 future aerospace engineers as they embarked on a week-long training field course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe aim of the week was to give our students some real, hands-on experience. Going to an active airspace with an active runway is absolutely critical to give students an appreciation of what aerospace engineering looks like in the real world,\u201d said Khris Kabbabe<\/a>, Programme Lead and a Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Four<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the fly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The week consisted of three core activities. The first saw students work in teams to design and construct a fixed-wing aircraft. Given just a barebones list of instructions, the students had to use all their engineering experience to craft a plane that could become airborne. After a long day of crafting, tinkering and modelling, the moment of truth had arrived: would they fly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very excited. It was the moment of truth. It was time to see if the aircraft we had spent all day building was going to fly well and it felt great when it finally took off and did everything as it should have done!\u201d \u2013 Shoaib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was very nervous when the pilot was taxiing out the aircraft\u2026 but I was also confident that my team and I were able to do a good job because in engineering we had collaborated together very well.\u201d \u2013 Alejandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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