2024 SOAR Into STEM Spring Session 2: Mechanics and Engineering

By Carmelo Turdo

High school students from St. Louis area districts participated in the second of four spring sessions of the Wings of Hope SOAR Into STEM Program on Saturday. SOAR Into STEM provides opportunities to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in the context of the Wings of Hope humanitarian aviation mission. Topics covered include Airplane Basics, Mechanics and Engineering, Navigation and Communication and Drone/Flight Opportunities.

In Session Two, led by Wings of Hope Education Programs Manager Lee Ann Nolte and a team of volunteer mentors, the students were introduced to a systematic approach to aircraft design through a series of activities covering powerplant and electrical system layout, aircraft maintenance and powered flight test methods. 

The session began with a review of the previous week's glider project. The students experimented with positioning the nose weight and adjusting flight controls to improve the flying characteristics of the aircraft. The results were excellent, with many flights extending past the edge of the designated flight area in the hangar. 

The first activity on the Mechanics and Engineering topic was the installation of an electrical system on a foam aircraft cutout. One objective was to mount a circuit to the aircraft so that two electric motors would run their propellers powered by a battery pack with a switch. Another objective was to add a circuit running navigation lights on the wingtips and tail controlled by a second switch off the same battery pack. Student teams worked on this project and then rotated through the other activity stations.

Another new project was the construction of a standard balsa wood, rubber band-powered aircraft that was then attached to a line from a stationary post. The object was to measure the distance flown as a factor of the circuits passing a fixed observation point, each trial using a different number of turns to the rubber band powering the aircraft. This activity illustrated the effects of structure, weight and balance, and propulsion.

The students were also given an inside look at the aircraft receiving maintenance in the Wings of Hope hangar. Here we show Wings of Hope volunteer mentors pointing out the major systems of two aircraft that were already opened up for inspections and repairs. 

The session's guest speaker was Boeing structural analysis engineer Becca Walters. She is a graduate of Purdue University and an expert in commercial aircraft composite structures. She has contributed to the design and testing of the 787 Dreamliner, a nearly all-composite aircraft. Walters encouraged the students to pursue their goals while also maintaining diverse interests, a reliable work record and healthy work/life balance in their professions.

SOAR Into STEM will continue next Saturday with Session Three, Navigation and Communication. Session Four, Drone Education, will follow along with a Discovery Flight and Career Fair later this month.