NORTHERN IRELAND AIR CADETS IN BID TO BUILD THEIR OWN PLANE

Project ‘Centennial Wings’ will see teenagers from the Air Training Corps work together to build a Sting S4 plane at Ulster Aviation Society’s Lisburn hangar.

The project has been supported by funding from Boeing and the Air League and it is hoped that the aircraft will be ready to fly at Farnborough Air Show in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. The weekend workers are expected to take at least a year to complete the job.

The completed two-seater aircraft will be capable of a maximum speed of 177 miles per hour.

Aaron Coulter one of the project officers, said: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the cadets.

“As pilots we go straight to the flying stage, so it’s interesting for us all to learn exactly what goes on to keep the aircraft in the air.

“The young people have all been enthused by the project – we have some travelling from as far afield as Omagh to get involved.”

Good luck to the team and we look forward to hearing about your progress.