AEDC STEM Aviation Program attendance soars

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  With participation of more than 60 students, the AEDC Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Aviation Program had a record number of attendance during the last school year and during the recent graduation aviation flights with the Eagleville Soaring Club.

The aviation program began with 15 students from Westwood Middle School and has been offered for four consecutive years.

Graduates of the aviation program, ranging from sixth through ninth grade, were able to participate in glider flights arranged by the ESC.

"We had tremendous participation by the club members who volunteer to fly with the STEM Aviation students and teachers," said Jere Matty, AEDC STEM coordinator. "They were taken by a tow plane up to 2,000 feet above the ground and released for a 15-20 minute flight in the beautiful sky over Eagleville, Tenn."

Eight volunteers from AEDC and UTSI assisted with the classes.

Students from East and West Middle School, Tullahoma; North Middle School, Franklin County; and Westwood and Coffee County Middle School, Manchester, used the Fly to Learn software, a 10-lesson curriculum using virtual airplanes. The software provides an understanding of science concepts, such as energy and forces, and allows students to modify aircraft designs to improve aircraft performance.

Matty said the Murfreesboro school system has expressed interest for the next school year.

-AEDC-