GISD Aerospace Engineering Students Complete and Fly Fourth Airplane
Through Aerospace Engineering, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, students from East View High School (EVHS) and Georgetown High School (GHS) take what they learn about aviation in the classroom and apply it to hands-on, action-oriented projects.
“We spend some time in our workshop, some time in our classroom, and a lot of time at the airport,” Jacob Parsons, East View High School (EVHS) Senior and Aerospace Engineering student, said.
Students in Aerospace Engineering gain authentic exposure to the aviation field in the program through their projects – For instance, building an actual airplane.
In the classroom, students learn about the mechanics of aircraft equipment, aviation maintenance and aircraft assembly before moving to the workshop to start the building process. There are roughly 3,000 parts for students to assemble and rivet together in order to complete the airplane.
“Each airplane that we build takes about a year to complete,” Parsons said. “We start with very small individual parts [from a Vans RV kit] and slowly build everything up to the final product: a fully functioning airplane.”
Once each airplane is completed, it is transported to the Georgetown Municipal Airport – where students spend time doing maintenance checks and aircraft inspections as part of the program’s curriculum – to take flight.
During the 2021-2022 school year, GISD Aerospace Engineering officially completed their fourth airplane. And on January 27, 2022, GISD Superintendent Dr. Fred Brent hopped aboard for a ride.
“I believe we are the only district in central Texas where students are learning to build airplanes! It was inspiring to walk out onto the tarmac and see this product of student work,” Dr. Brent said. “I was exceptionally proud and honored to fly in that plane.”
This isn't the first time Dr. Brent flew in a student-built airplane. The program was founded in 2016, and the first airplane was completed in 2017 just in time for Dr. Brent to take a ride over the stadium during the district’s 100-year anniversary football game when East View played Georgetown High School.
The program got its start through the school district’s partnership with Tango Flight, a non-profit corporation that aims to inspire young Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students in the field of aviation. Tango Flight provides an in-class curriculum and a shipment of all the parts needed for each airplane to be built.
“Many students steer away from STEM-type programs because it can be intimidating,” Dr. Peter Dittmer, EVHS Aerospace Engineering Instructor, said. “It is important to let students know they are capable and they can do it. Because of programs like this one, students are able to learn early-on how many career options are possible for them [through STEM programs].”
Dr. Dittmer is a former Aviation Professor and Department Chair at Central Washington University. After teaching college students for 30 years, Dr. Dittmer was thrilled to see that the same fascination with aviation was present at the high school level.
“I took this job with the hope of motivating students to find a career path that inspires them,” Dr. Dittmer said. “Many students have found one in aviation, and this program has shown them a number of possibilities to make it happen.”
Building a Future
Parsons is among the students who plan to continue their aviation pathway after high school. He will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Arizona to major in Aerospace Engineering in the Fall of 2022. Parsons was awarded Embry-Riddle's Presidential Scholarship, totalling $80,000, for his academic performance.
“This program has led me to jobs, helped me get into college, and has shown me that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Parsons said. “It is the most priceless experience.”
How it works
Once complete, planes must log 25 hours and receive a certificate of airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once certified, planes are sold and the proceeds are used to fund the next airplane project.
More
Dr. Dittmer notes that student growth in the program is made possible by the involvement of their mentors. A special shoutout to:
Robert Reese
Gary Hamilton
Gregory Stearman
Jim Crawford
Check out these articles to see how the GISD Aerospace Engineering program has grown over the years:
GHS Student Takes Solo Flight in Tango Flight Airplane
Georgetown ISD's Aerospace Program Soars
Georgetown ISD's Aerospace Program Soars After 2016 Takeoff
Learn more about Tango Flight on their website.
