“How did you make it do that?” A paper plane looped in the sky, dogfighting with fall leaves. My third grade teacher watched by my side, astounded. The plane performed an emergency landing, and I ran to repair the aircraft. Looking at the blueprint I drew up, I adjusted the weight mechanisms, and realigned the wings. It took off again, performing victory acrobatics for onlookers. “Tyree, you should be an engineer.”
Her words replayed in my head, as I laughed at the renaissance unfolding before me. It is 2 A.M. and I am knee deep in a PowerPoint called “Understanding Airplanes”. Written by a Boeing employee, I decided to download it. Three hours later, I am only on slide 363. Thankfully, I live near the campus Starbucks. As I am reading about the wing fences on the MiG-17, I realized the level of sophistication in aircraft design during that era. I began to seriously consider a career within the aerospace industry.
When my friend introduced me to a World War II/Korean War flight simulator game, my interest in airplanes took off. Terrible puns aside, I became engrossed in not the way planes look and perform, but in the design decisions which gave birth to these performance and aesthetic qualities. For example, the planform alignment on aircraft like the F-22, F-35, and PAK FA not only looks beautiful, but also reduces radar visibility. I believe AIAA is the perfect place to discuss, and learn more about, advancements within aerospace engineering.
Furthermore, I am interested in the webinar series for students and emerging professionals. On the subreddit r/EngineeringStudents, I encounter many repeated questions for topics such as discipline selection, software choices, and study skills. While I love helping and answering questions when I can, I often feel as if there cshould be a resource where one could find information that is slightly less generic, and better meets their needs. This webinar series could be a platform to better inform students at all stages, with information they themselves find pertinent.
Along with additional knowledge and a place to help my peers, the Alexander R. Norris Space View Internship will help me find my place within aerospace engineering. Reading over the convention lists from previous years, I am sure I will be exposed to a variety of current trends within the industry, and more than likely find the one field that will shape my future education and career goals.
When I was in high school, and a more art focused individual, I applied to several art schools. My guidance counselor at the time said, “Tyree, you should apply to a traditional university. You’re good at art, but you’re a sponge. You absorb all the information around you.” Going to conventions, meeting engineers, and being in a place filled with knowledge gives me the opportunity to do what I am best at–: learning and becoming a more knowledgeable individual.