Many of us know what it’s like to check in our luggage at the airport, wait for our flight to board, walk through a tunnel that leads directly into an aircraft, buckle in and take off. But very few people ever get a chance to actually walk around the outside of a huge jet, kick a tire and poke their heads inside a jet engine.
This was the rare and amazing opportunity granted to Hallam Senior College Physics students when they visited Jetstar and BAE Systems at Melbourne International Airport.
Physics teacher Rob Zreczycki explains, ‘This field trip was part of an extended practical investigation students have worked on in their Physics class. Thanks to Aviation Aerospace Australia, Jetstar and BAE Systems, students were able to see first-hand the connection between research work they did at school and real-life aerospace applications.
First stop, Jetstar maintenance at Melbourne airport where we had the opportunity to walk around and board a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A320. Students got a chance to sit in the cockpit of this amazing jet. One of my students, Alli Duiker, had never been on a passenger jet before in her life so her first experience was not only on a 787 which is very special in itself but also in the captain’s seat!
For Alli (pictured), her very first time on a passenger jet was made extra special on this day. Not only was it a Boeing 787 Dreamliner she and her classmates boarded, but they also got to sit in the captain’s seat’.
Following a dinner break and wander through Melbourne airport, we headed back to the maintenance precinct and visited BAE Systems where students once again had a walk through and walk around a Tiger Airways jet.
Hallam’s Aviation and Aerospace pathway starts at Year 10 where students are able to choose a science elective that focuses on drone technologies and flight science. This then leads them on to more specialist subjects such as Physics and Engineering where aerospace is studied in greater depth while beyond that, the sky’s the limit.
I was so proud of our young ladies and gentlemen. They were so engaged, asked highly intelligent questions and were able to answer technical questions when asked. They certainly represented our school extremely well.
The group was so well received that they made it on to the Aviation Aerospace Australia website. They have been very supportive of us over the last couple of years and have become an invaluable industry link.
Rob Zreczycki
Physics teacher