CCF Navy Cadets Take on STEM Challenge
A team of four CCF Royal Navy cadets (Year 10’s Freya, Arabella, Sheryl and Will S), took two days out of their half-term to attend the RN Southwest STEM challenge at Fleet Air Arm Service RNAS Yeovilton. They were tasked with designing and building a model of a fixed rear and retractable, lockable undercarriage, for an aeroplane, with electrical indicators.
After a short briefing, they had some time in the Fleet Air Arm Museum looking at systems that have been used before, analysing the pros and cons of each. The team should have comprised six people so two of them had to take on double roles; they were the project manager, purchaser, chief engineer, engineer, skilled operator, and electrician, each with their own specific briefs.
The team worked well together, throughout the day, to meet all the deadlines and requirements, even finding time to meet the additional hydraulics challenge. They were marked on various aspects for both their design and build and the testing of the model: Including teamwork, communication, problem solving, health and safety, engineering skills and ‘the sell’ (presentation).
With very few marks missed they triumphed over eight other teams (one of which comprised adult officers), to become the winners of the competition.
