28 teams comprised of 102 enthusiastic young engineers went head-to-head at the Flying Start Challenge regional final, hosted at RNAS Yeovilton, under the mentorship of Leonardo STEM ambassadors. The teams, who have been receiving tutoring since January, had spent a great deal of the last month building gliders in order to be crowned regional winners and go on to compete at the Grand Final in May.
The day began with students rotating between activities, which involved a presentation of their glider design and construction, a quiz of the knowledge they have gained through the six weeks of lessons, and a bridge-building activity to put their newfound engineering skills to the test.
The students then headed over to one of the base’s enormous hangars, where they had the opportunity to see helicopters manufactured by Leonardo in Yeovil, such as the Wildcat and Merlin, and talk to the Royal Navy personnel that maintain and operate these impressive machines. Following speeches from Leonardo Helicopters UK Managing Director Nick Whitney MBE, and the Station Commander Commodore Niall Griffin MBE, the Fly-Off got underway. The Fly-Off was the day’s final activity, where the teams’ gliders, which they had spent so much time designing, were finally pit against each other to see whose could perform the furthest flight.
In the event, a team from Buckler’s Mead Academy in Yeovil took home the coveted first place prize, winning the Fly-Off with an impressive distance of 20.8 metres. Teams from Stanchester Academy and Sunninghill Preparatory were named Runners-Up, in second and third place, respectively.
Guiding the teams were 28 Leonardo Graduates and Apprentices, with several Royal Navy staff also lending a hand and assessing the engineering activity. Nick Whitney, who launched the first glider, assembled by our ambassadors to set down the marker for the teams to beat, remarked, “It’s great to see the interest in STEM from the schools, and it’s great to see our graduates and apprentices helping and encouraging the younger generation to engage with the engineering disciplines that are available to them in their future careers.”
Mr Christopher Hill, Teacher of Science at Ansford Academy, commented, "We really enjoyed the lessons on flight; considering the difficulties that COVID restrictions caused, it work amazingly. The team we had working in school were great.”
Ron Tofts, Teaching Assistant and Technician at eventual winners, Buckler’s Mead Academy, praised the contest, stating, “What a great day. All the students now want to redesign their gliders and prepare for the finals and for next year. Thank you to the Apprentices and Graduates for all their efforts.”
Leonardo is a long-time contributor to the Flying Start Challenge, which is designed to encourage students to develop key engineering skills and increase awareness of the excellent careers available in STEM. Supported by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Engineering Development Trust, each year the competition is run by trainees from Leonardo and five other aerospace engineering companies: Airbus, Atkins, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and Safran Landing Systems.
The Grand Final takes place on Tuesday 10 May at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton.