Engineering insight #1: you will work with your hands
This week, two thousand young people in Luton and Bedfordshire took part in We Can Be: Engineers with Big Ideas and the RAF Youth and STEM programme. Everyone met our special guest, the Civil Aviation Authority’s Neil Williams.
This Luton / Beds programme was sparked by employment opportunities at Luton Airport where Neil himself set up the original apprenticeship programme.
During the event, Neil’s enjoyment in engineering was infectious: “I have always loved fixing things and I always wanted to be an engineer. There are so many jobs you can do within being an engineer. You can go anywhere with engineering and it never gets boring. I am still as excited today as when I started 44 years ago.”
With forty years’ experience under his belt, Neil has fixed fighter jets for the RAF, travelled the world, weighed aeroplanes and currently oversees training standards.
As you would expect he had an incredible depth of experience to share. Neil reflected on the huge impact of computers in aeroplanes – a transformation he has seen during his career – but emphasised that there’s still an important place for more traditional mechanical engineers in the aviation sector. So, yes, you will work with your hands. When asked about the sheer responsibility of repairing a plane with safety and people’s lives at stake he reassured everyone, “If you get stuck, don’t guess. Find someone to help you – it’s team work.”
With thanks to Ernulf Academy – first to send us your designs
As well as asking Neil their own questions, everyone took part in a word cloud about engineering and created a design for an aeroplane of the future with fresh thinking about form, fuel and purpose.
Teachers will be sending in designs and prototypes and two classes will win a fantastic prize at Cranfield University where they will get to build their own plane-wing, get their hands on an aeroplane and see some Formula One vehicles up close.
We can’t wait to see who wins.
We Can Be Engineers is funded by the RAF Youth and STEM team. Watch out for We Can Be: Engineers in Middlesbrough this autumn.