Schoolchildren Reach for the Skies with Bombardier
Pupils from across Northern Ireland reached for the sky today at the final of Bombardier Aeropace’s annual school competition, The Flight Experience Challenge, held at the W5 Science and Discovery Centre in the Odyssey complex, Belfast. Linked to Bombardier’s extensive educational programme, which promotes the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects as exciting and creative processes of discovery and invention, the competition provides a practical learning experience for schoolchildren.
Entrants 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 judging panel, which included manufacturing and materials engineers from Bombardier, selected the following winners:
Key Stage 2 St. Bride’s Primary School, Belfast
Key Stage 3 Parkhall Integrated College, Antrim
Key Stage 4/5 Glengormley High School, Glengormley
Special School Fleming Fulton School, Belfast
The prizes for the winning teams included an action-packed trip to London, taking in visits to the Science Museum, London Eye and a West End show, as well as £1,000 for their respective schools. A special award this year, sponsored by Aer Lingus, went to the team whose model aircraft flew the longest distance. The lucky team will have the opportunity to pilot an Aer Lingus flight simulator at Dublin Airport.
“In addition to providing practical learning opportunities, The Flight Experience Challenge encourages schoolchildren to develop teambuilding skills,” said David Molloy, Vice President, Human Resources, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast. “We hope the experience, as well as being a lot of fun, will inform and inspire them about possible career paths in aerospace. Today, their creative abilities have demonstrated their potential to become tomorrow’s innovators.”
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @BombardierInc.
Source: Bombardier
