Schools Fly High with Bombardier
School children from across Northern Ireland reached for the sky today at the final of Bombardier’s annual Flight Experience Challenge, held at the W5 Science and Discovery Centre in Odyssey, Belfast.
Linked to Bombardier’s extensive educational outreach, which supports the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme in Northern Ireland’s schools, the competition provides a practical learning experience for young people.
Pupils were challenged to design, build and fly a self-propelled model aircraft using recyclable, everyday objects. Aeroplanes manufactured from a wide range of materials, including balsa wood, paper clips, lollipop sticks and elastic bands, were judged on design, construction, flight and livery.
The standard of entries in each category was high, and the judging panel, comprising Bombardier manufacturing and materials engineers, selected the following winners:
| Key Stage 2 | St Bride’s Primary School, Belfast |
| Key Stage 3 | Bangor Grammar School |
| Key Stage 4/5 | Glengormley High School |
| Special School | Fleming Fulton School, Belfast |
Winning teams will visit the Farnborough International Airshow on Friday, July 23, 2010, a day dedicated to International Futures for Youth. The programme of activities, aimed at inspiring young minds to choose careers in aerospace, will include interactive demonstrations and flight simulations. There will also be opportunities to meet industry leaders, as well as graduates who have recently joined the sector. In addition, each winning team will receive £1,000 for their school.
“Today was an excellent illustration of industry and education working in partnership. These young people’s creative abilities clearly demonstrate their potential to become tomorrow’s innovators. We hope that Bombardier has shown them what aerospace has to offer in an interesting and stimulating way,” said Rory Galway, Manager, Equal Opportunities and Technical Training, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast.
Source: BOMBARDIER
