Saturday, the Red-Tailed Hawks December meeting was held at the Future of Flight, WA. The membership enjoyed their facilities, learning stations, and the Boeing Experience film.
The RTH instructor covered Aircraft Construction with 18 students. It began with a discussion about engineering, problem-solving, design processes, and the four forces on an airplane. Students engaged in a hands-on segment to understand tension, compression, torsion, shear, and bending. After discussing how airplanes are designed to meet structural requirements, the students watched a video clip covering the challenges experienced during the design and build of the Boeing 787.
The students also participated in assembly lines formed to build model P-51C Mustang airplanes. Students took on the roles of Manufacturing Engineers, Liaison Engineers, Quality Engineers, and Assembly Technicians. Later, the history lesson covered Col. James T. Wiley, Tuskegee Airman, and Boeing engineering manager.