Laboratory Design to Enhance Understanding of Statics for Aeronautical Engineering Technology Students

Students majoring in Aeronautical Engineering Technology (AET) are expected to have a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. An appropriate educational pathway is crucial to foster the development of these skills. Statics is one of the theoretical courses that have been viewed as difficult for students to relate classroom skills to the actual needs of their future careers. In order to deliver a successful statics course for AET students, projects are designed as combinations of lecture and laboratory work. In addition, it is important to enable students to associate theoretical knowledge with subjects that they would encounter in the workforce. To better enhance the practical education of AET students, this paper introduces a strategy in the lab session of statics course for AET students. This lab session embraces realworld aeronautical examples from aircraft, so that students can develop analytical skills. Exposure to airworthy aircraft parts is expected to more effectively introduce students to the importance of statics and motivate students to apply theoretical knowledge of statics. During lecture, analogs of typical physical models in statics were introduced and then compared to aircraft parts during a tour of an aircraft hangar. For instance, the supported beam is analogous to the supported high wing on a general aviation aircraft. Analysis of supported beam is described as an example of the designed lab activities in this study. Furthermore, the moment about a point is analogous to the main landing gear of a light general aviation aircraft. This type of lab work allows students to have a better understanding of statics and its applications within aviation.