Learners at MTC Training celebrate wing success
Apprentices at MTC Training, part of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, are celebrating the completion of an ambitious initiative that has given them the chance to build components for a lightweight aircraft.
Project Slingshot, created by The Air League, opens the doors for promising engineers and gives them a taste of what it is like to be an engineer in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing. The opportunity to explore the aerospace working environment is supported by the Department for Transport and industry players including Royal Air Force Cosford, Aston University Engineering Academy and Boeing UK.
The final stage of the project saw apprentices mount the fuel tanks, a major component of the wings structure, to the aircraft's wings and close out the top skins, ensuring a fully completed assembly, compliant with all of the quality controls and regulations for light aircraft.
As a result of Project Slingshot the apprentices have developed key technical skills including inspection methods, safety measures, tool control and assembly techniques, which are transferable across all manufacturing and engineering sectors. In addition, they gained soft skills such as project management, teamwork and communication.
MTC apprentice Saul Redgrave said, "Project Slingshot has been really beneficial for me. It's given me valuable hands-on experience and was a great opportunity for me to work with my classmates as a team to try and achieve the end goal, just like I will throughout my career. Now, we'll get to see our hard work come to life when the aircraft takes flight! I know that this accomplishment will help me stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for further learning opportunities and new roles."
The test pilot for the project, retired Royal Air Force Air Commodore Alistair Seymour, said he was impressed by the project.
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