Build a Plane Northern Ireland Project (BAPNI) has got underway with the support of The Air League and Boeing who have funded the engine of the aircraft.
The project will see groups from shared education partnerships across the country build a Sherwood Scout, a two-seater, high wing monoplane, which has a tubular framework with the wings covered in a specially treated fabric.
The Air League says that Youth plane building programmes are ambitious, challenging and inspiring, as aside from the learning experience they develop you people’s personal attributes of leadership, communication and team working. These programmes have an excellent long term impact on the skills of the UK’s future engineers and pilots, as they capture the imagination of young people through connecting them to career opportunities with leading companies like Boeing.
Sir Martin Donnelly, president, Boeing Europe and managing director, Boeing UK and Ireland said “We at Boeing are proud to support STEM initiatives across the UK. Over the last 5 years we have partnered with the Air League and the Ulster Aviation Society on a build-a-plane project that has successfully flown. Through our contribution to this second build-a-plane project, young people from across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of engineering and learn vital skills for their future,”
The aircraft is due to be completed in 2021 and will enable hundreds of young people in Northern Ireland to develop their STEM skills.
The Build A Plane Northern Ireland project is a joint venture with the Education Authority and is supported by the companies within the aviation industry including Boeing, Denroy, Bombardier, JW Kane, Collins Aerospace, Thales and Victrex.
The programme is also supported by ADS and The Air League.