Wicks Aircraft, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Boeing, and St. Louis Downtown Airport recently teamed to sponsor the Lewis & Clark Gateway to Aviation event at Downtown St. Louis Airport. The workshop was intended to introduce children and young adults to aviation. Of the more than 400 Boy Scouts present, 300 participated in Young Eagle flights.
The scouts pitched tents nearby and took full advantage of the two days of activities that included aviation hero speakers, maintenance and tech activities, ultralight aircraft displays, tours of a Convair Commercial jet, aviation career forums, medical helicopter tours, rocket activities, Segway rides and air and space museum tours.
Wicks provided rubber band powered model airplane kits. The kits involved following instructions, working with plans and cutting and gluing pieces of balsa wood together. The structures were covered with tissue paper. Each kit required about an hour to assemble and Wicks’ personnel were on hand to supervise the students. Completion of the kit is one part of the requirements to receive an aviation merit badge.
“They took on the project with determination and worked hard at completing it,” said Scott Wick, president of Wicks Aircraft. “The two days slipped by quite quickly with so many Boy Scouts present and such a high level of enthusiasm for the programs.”
For more information: WicksAircraft.com
