Aerospace engineering students from Ohio State University were invited to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, Ohio, to learn about AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, and Advanced Air Mobility earlier in November 2023.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Advanced Air Mobility is a rapidly-emerging, new sector of the aerospace industry which aims to safely and efficiently integrate highly automated aircraft such as electric aircraft into the national airspace system.
“I want you all to be excited about the third revolution in aerospace,” said Hank Griffiths, AFWERX chief of test and airworthiness, to the students. “The first was powered flight with the Wright brothers. Then we had the jet age. Now we are just entering the electric age. Get excited about that, because you’re future engineers and these electric aircraft companies need engineers.”
The visit began with Griffiths telling the students about AFWERX and its partnership with electric aircraft companies, such as BETA Technologies and Joby Aviation, to bring zero-emission aviation to the military along with other benefits, including a quiet noise profile and the cost savings to operate and maintain its fleet without dependency on traditional fossil fuels.
“Our Air Force Chief of Staff published a letter called ‘Accelerate Change or Lose’ in order to keep up with our adversaries,” Griffiths explained. “Innovation is happening in the private sector and we need to partner with them to accelerate technology into the Air Force.”
Griffiths invited the students to Springfield-Beckley Airport because it has become a hub for unmanned aerial systems and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft research, development and testing. The airport also has simulators from BETA and Joby that students got to fly.
The simulator was amazing and easy to fly, like driving a car,” said Maya Sivakumaran, Ohio State University aerospace engineering sophomore. “It’s a very exciting time to be an aerospace major and I’m very optimistic about the future of aviation and how that can positively impact humanity.”
Maya Sivakumaran, Ohio State University aerospace engineering sophomore, flies in the Joby Aviation flight simulator at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. Sivakumaran was invited to the airport to learn about AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Departmnet of the Air Force, and Advanced Air Mobility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Clouse)
The visit also gave students the opportunity to ask questions to aerospace experts from AFWERX, BETA and Joby.
“We learn the basics in the classroom but these opportunities allow you to apply those concepts,” said Henry Kitchen, Ohio State University aerospace engineering sophomore. “This visit is something I’ve been really excited about and was a really cool experience.”
After students were done flying in the simulators, Griffiths had one last message.
“Let other students know about this and get them excited so they will want to come visit.”
Top Photo: Henry Kitchen, Ohio State University aerospace engineering sophomore, flies in the BETA Technologies flight simulator at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. Kitchen was invited to the airport to learn about AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, and Advanced Air Mobility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Clouse)
Source: Air Force Research Laboratory