On 5 June, The Air League was proud to support The Royal School in Wolverhampton for their annual Big Bang STEM Day, delivered with Time and Space Learning and with support from Boeing. The event showcased the power of hands-on learning and collaboration in inspiring young people to explore the possibilities within aviation, aerospace and space.
The Royal School, a state-funded institution serving a diverse community of students, provided an ideal setting for an engaging and inclusive STEM experience. The day was expertly organised by science teacher Dorra Oleschuk, whose passion and dedication ensured a dynamic and impactful programme for all participants. The Air League has been working closely with the school for the past two years, helping to broaden students’ awareness of career pathways within the sector, and this event marked another significant milestone in that partnership.
bringing flight to life
A key highlight of the day was a full-day intensive workshop run by Time and Space Learning for members of the school’s STEM club. Through an innovative and highly engaging approach, students were challenged to design, test and refine cardboard aircraft. Starting with a simple square of cardboard, students progressed through a structured series of adaptations, transforming their designs into aircraft capable of performing different flight manoeuvres.
This progressive activity provided an accessible introduction to the theory of flight, as well as core engineering design principles. Students gained valuable insight into how small changes in shape
and structure can affect performance, encouraging experimentation, iteration and critical thinking.
To bring their designs to life, the students tested their aircraft using a specially designed gravity launcher, developed by Mark from Time and Space Learning. Thanks to funding from Boeing, The Air League was delighted to donate a gravity launcher to the school, ensuring that future cohorts of students can continue to benefit from this exciting and educational resource.
"Events like The Royal School’s Big Bang STEM Day are exactly what The Air League is all about, bringing aviation, aerospace and space to life in a way that is engaging, inclusive and inspiring. By working alongside committed educators and partners such as Time and Space Learning and Boeing, we are able to give young people hands-on experiences that build confidence, ignite curiosity and open their eyes to the exciting opportunities within our sector. It has been a privilege to support The Royal School over the past two years, and to see students growing in ambition and awareness of future career pathways."
Developing Skills for the future
Alongside the engineering workshop, The Air League delivered an interactive session focused on the importance of teamwork, communication and creative problem solving, essential skills across the aviation, aerospace and space sectors. The workshop encouraged students to work collaboratively and think creatively when tackling practical challenges.
Students also had the opportunity to hear directly from a Boeing cyber security employee who shared his personal career journey. Coming from the West Midlands, his story resonated strongly with the students, offering a relatable and inspiring example of what can be achieved through determination, curiosity, and resilience.
Strenthening Partnerships
This successful event was made possible through strong collaboration and shared commitment to the development of air mindedness in British youth. The Air League would like to extend sincere thanks to Boeing for their continued support, which enables us to deliver impactful opportunities to students who may not otherwise consider careers in these industries.
We are also grateful to Dorra Oleschuk for hosting us and for her ongoing efforts to nurture a thriving partnership between The Royal School and The Air League. Finally, we thank Time and Space Learning for their creativity and expertise in bringing aircraft engineering and the theory of flight to life in such a fun, engaging and memorable way.
Together, we are helping to inspire the next generation of innovators and opening doors to exciting futures in aviation, aerospace and space.
