The Air League congratulates the Build a Plane Northern Ireland Project (BAPNI) for their endeavour and progress achieved to date, made possible through the joint efforts of Boeing and the Air League who have funded the engine of the aircraft. The BAPNI project builds on the success of Centennial Wings and plans to enable hundreds of more young people in NI to develop their STEM skills.
Youth plane building programmes are ambitious, challenging and inspiring, as aside from the learning experience they develop you people’s personal attributes of leadership, communication and team working. These programmes have an excellent long term impact on the skills of the UK’s future engineers and pilots, as they capture the imagination of young people through connecting them to career opportunities with leading companies like Boeing.
Due to be completed in 2021, the Sherwood Scout, a two seater, high wing monoplane, which has a tubular framework with the wings covered in a specially treated fabric is being built by young people from shared education partnerships across Northern Ireland under the guidance of members of Ulster Aviation Society.
“This project is a great example of industry working closely together with the local community to create an impactful, sustainable STEM initiative that will benefit many young people in Northern Ireland. I am pleased Boeing is investing in in the next generation of innovators in our community.” said Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at a visit to Ulster Aviation Society on Monday, 10th February 2020.
“We at Boeing are proud to support STEM initiatives across the UK. Over the last 5 years we have partnered with the Air League and the Ulster Aviation Society on a build-a-plane project that has successfully flown. Through our contribution to this second build-a-plane project, young people from across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of engineering and learn vital skills for their future,” said Sir Martin Donnelly, president, Boeing Europe and managing director, Boeing UK and Ireland.
The project is a joint venture with the Education Authority and is supported by industry including Boeing, Denroy, Bombardier, JW Kane, Collins Aerospace, Thales and Victrex. The programme is also supported by ADS and the Air League.
