Aeronautics Students from Throughout Region Have Fun on Launch Day at Bridgeport City Park
By Chris Johnson on July 26, 2024
The summer aeronautics class at the Benedum Civic Center wrapped up on Thursday with a trip to the Bridgeport City Park for launch day.
As many as 15 middle school and high school students from Bridgeport, Clarksburg, Nutter Fort, Morgantown, Fairmont, Jane Lew and Belington have spent the past several weeks learning about and building rockets and free flight airplanes.
On Thursday, they had the opportunity to see their creations in action.
“A lot of the kids I don’t think they get it, they don’t really understand what they are putting together until they get to fly them and then you can see it in their faces,” said Ed Waske who has instructed the course for four years.
Waske, who is the Chief Operating Officer of Engine & Airframe Solutions Worldwide and the primary organizer of the Carl Hopkins WV Youth Aviation Expo also teaches a summer class at The Bridge Sports Complex.
Sparking an interest with the youth, educating them and showing them the opportunities that are out there right in their backyard is a passion for Waske, but he also realizes that in order for that interest to grow, there also has to be a fun factor.
“Ed is the man,” said Andrew Pollick, the new STEM teacher at Bridgeport High School who was present at Launch Day to help out. “He’s tying all of this together getting kids started in the process of engineering and aerospace and rocketry and having fun. You look around here today and you know by the look on their faces, these kids are having fun.
“Bridgeport High School is happy to support him when it comes to reaching out and making those connections in the community.”
With classes over for this summer, Waske now turns his full attention to the Expo which will take place on Aug. 9-10 at The Bridge Sports Complex.
Photo gallery from Launch Day will be available on Connect-Bridgeport in the upcoming days.
Editor's Note:Top photo shows the aeronautics students with Waske (sitting, center)and Pollick (far right, back row) while bottom two show Waske giving flight instructions to students.
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