On Thursday and Friday 11^th and 12^th April, 150 Year 12 students took part in Engineering Experience activities in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering.

Engineering Experience is an annual event, undertaken by Loughborough University, overseen by the School and Colleges Liaison team, with each university engineering department providing activities and inputs in respect of their engineering discipline/s.

This year, students built and flew their own balsa wood aircraft with Mr John Newton - and were tested on their automotive engineering knowledge by our Formula Student (FS) Team, lead and supported by Monty Jeacock-Fewtrell and James Throssell respectively.

Students had the opportunity to hear about Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering courses at Loughborough, delivered by academic staff:

• Dr Sarah Dunnett
• Dr Paul Cunningham
• Dr Simon Wang
• Dr Jingjing Jiang

Students also spent time speaking with staff and students about their future ideas re university and about engineering.

The winners of the Automotive Engineering Knowledge quiz got to have their photos taken in a Formula Student car and were presented with 3D printed FS car trophies, as pictured at the top of this news item.  The trophies were designed and created by FS Team Member James Throssell, with a little help from our STEMLab Manager, Mr Chris Harris – the trophies made an excellent addition to the students’ experience this year!

The winners of the Flight Competition had their photographs taken in the Hawk aircraft with their trophies of hand-built balsa aircraft, (as designed by Mr John Newton.)  The Hawk is situated in the Penrose Atrium in Stewart Miller Building on campus, which is a part of the Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering Department.

We really enjoyed meeting the students and we hope that their experience with us has contributed positively to their decision making in terms of engineering in the future!