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| By Carmelo Turdo |
High school students from the St. Louis area and neighboring counties 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 2, led by Wings of Hope Education Programs Manager Lee Ann Nolte and a team of volunteer mentors, the students were introduced to aircraft navigation and communication methods directly applicable to general aviation aircraft. Throughout the day, the students worked together to learn new material and work through increasingly complex navigation tasks performed by pilots on every flight. They also practiced communicating with air traffic control during simulated traffic pattern work around Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Aero Experience coverage continues with a look at the practical learning activities designed to reinforce the concepts introduced during Session Two.
The session's guest speaker was SOAR Into STEM volunteer mentor Jeff Butler. His presentation traced the history of mankind's desire to fly like a bird dating back to 1700 B.C. He gave examples of the scientific discoveries and inventions that continue to be employed in modern aviation, including the kite, parachute, helicopter and hang glider. Butler is currently an instructor with Envision Paragliding, flying a modern aircraft that both Da Vinci and the ancient Chinese would recognize. Launching from high elevations in western states like Oklahoma and Colorado, he has flown cross-country in an unpowered paraglider at altitudes over 18,000 feet. Here he is shown with his paraglider pack following the interactive discussion.
Volunteer mentor and instructor Cathy Babis was the next presenter, giving an overview of the navigation and communication equipment on general aviation aircraft. From the nearly obsolescent VOR to modern GPS, aviation navigation has progressed significantly over the last fifty years. Babis, a former air traffic controller, also gave real-life examples of communication between aircraft and air traffic control facilities as a valuable preview to the group activity coming later in the session. Here we include a portion of her presentation, including a mention of her historic flight around mainland Australia in a seaplane last year.
Kirk McDonald, Wings of Hope Board Member and SOAR Into STEM volunteer mentor, rounded out the morning of Session 2 with a flight planning exercise using the ForeFlight app. GPS navigation and quick lookup technology reduce the flight planning process from multiple hours using a paper chart and E-6B Flight Computer to minutes using this amazing tool. The exercise was valuable preparation for the afternoon navigation activities.
Lunch time gave everyone a break from the academic work and gave the mentors an opportunity to visit with the students. The quality of the food and conversation did not disappoint!
After lunch, the students rotated among four activity stations: Aeronautical Chart Reading, Flight Navigation Exercise, Flight Simulation and Air Traffic Control Communication. Here we feature a short description and highlights of each activity.
Aeronautical charts present a vast amount of information using unique symbology, and attempting to interpret them can be intimidating at first glance. In one of the activity stations, the students were given a list of items to locate on a Missouri Aeronautical Chart and note on their worksheet. The chart legend was "key" to this exercise, though some expert guidance by the current and former pilot mentors was helpful in understanding the terminology associated with the symbols on the charts.
Another activity during the session was a navigation exercise that involved plotting a course using scale maps. A flight scenario was proposed, and the students prepared a planning worksheet containing direction, distance and flight time to various destinations. The SOAR Into STEM mentors were again available to assist in the process.
The students also applied their new skills at the desktop flight simulator station. Using the classic Cessna 172 display, they practiced the flight techniques learned in the previous session on the forces of flight and flight controls while employing basic navigation using compass headings and landmarks.
A unique activity was also included in this session - an Air Traffic Control exercise using a large airport diagram laid out on the hangar floor. The students took turns playing the parts of aircraft and air traffic control communicating during operations around the airport in a scripted scenario. The aircraft were represented by RC Spheros as they landed, taxied and took off from the airport.
Before the end of the session, the students gathered in small groups to meet with their STEM mentors for a debrief and discussion of various topics, including higher education options and aviation career opportunities. These informal small group discussions provide a positive and affirming way to conclude each session.
The Aero Experience thanks Wings of Hope and all those who contribute to the SOAR Into STEM program. We will have continuing coverage of the upcoming sessions through April and May, culminating in a career fair and flight opportunities.
This particular Ford Trimotor, 4-AT-E was first delivered to Eastern Air Transport in 1929. In 1930, it was leased to Cubana Airlines and was later used by the government of the Dominican Republic. After returning to the U.S., it was used for barnstorming, crop dusting, aerial firefighting and transporting smoke jumpers. After returning to the airshow scene in the 1960s and 1970s, it was nearly destroyed in a storm at the EAA's 1973 Fly-In. Never defeated, the aircraft was again destined to serve as an aviation time machine after a 12-year restoration by the EAA Aviation Foundation, and it proudly represents EAA AirVenture Museum around the nation.
