The San Diego Air & Space Museum is offering three introductory courses in aerospace fields for students between 15-18 years old. Each course will provide foundational workforce training in STEM concepts and aeronautics. All classes will be held at the Museum’s Gillespie Field Annex at 335 Kenney Street, El Cajon, CA 92020.
About the Instructors
Madhukar (Maud) Rao is a retired Chemical Engineer and currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for Workforce Development at Innovation Impact Partners, LLC. He has more than 36 years of industrial R&D experience with major chemical and semiconductor materials companies, where he held senior positions in R&D management. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science from The Pennsylvania State University, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The New Jersey Institute of Technology.
For the past 2 ½ years, Maud has been a docent at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He serves on the museum’s Scholarship Committee and is a training coordinator for new docents. He enjoys engineering, history, and teaching, so being a docent at the museum is a perfect fit. He has extensive experience in preparing and giving talks on aviation and space history for the museum and is part of the museum’s Speakers Bureau. He also leads tours in the museum with interested visitors every Monday, and Wednesday. He and his wife Linda live in Carlsbad.
Phillip Burgers is a retired aerodynamicist, with 35 years of experience in unmanned aircraft, having worked for Teledyne Ryan and General Atomics in San Diego. Holding a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, he has branched out to designing fans and blowers (for Comair Rotron) and golf balls (a 322-dimple ball by TaylorMade). He writes peer-reviewed papers on a novel aerodynamic equation of state applicable to aircraft, extant birds, and the aerodynamic evolution of extinct flyers (i.e., Archaeopteryx). He has been a docent since Feb 2024. He leads tours in the museum with interested visitors every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, highlighting the history and technology of its numerous and notable artifacts.
Phillip John Lavullis is a seasoned Aircraft Sheet Metal Instructor with over two decades of expertise in structural fabrication, repair, and maintenance of military aircraft. Specializing in structural integrity, corrosion control, and airframe modifications, he has worked extensively on aircraft including the H-60 Seahawk, H-53 Super Stallion, E-2 Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, F/A-18 Hornet & Super Hornet, H-46 Sea Knight, UH-1 Huey, and AH-1 Cobra.
Phillip has led structural teams in depot-level maintenance, in-service repairs, and aircraft rework under the Integrated Maintenance Concept (IMC) and In-Service Repair (ISR) programs. He collaborates closely with engineering, production control, and quality assurance teams to uphold the highest safety and operational standards. His expertise was recognized in Aviation History’s Winter 2023 Issue for his contributions to the USS Midway Museum’s Cutlass restoration.
Phillip holds certifications in OSHA safety regulations, hazardous material handling, PPE compliance, and aircraft fuel tank safety, along with CPR certification and extensive experience in workplace safety, FOD prevention, and compliance with EPA, NFPA, and DoD aviation maintenance standards.
As an instructor, Phillip is dedicated to training the next generation of aircraft sheet metal mechanics, emphasizing technical precision, safety, and efficiency. He provides hands-on instruction in blueprint interpretation, non-destructive inspection, corrosion control, and structural fabrication. Renowned for his leadership, technical acumen, and mentorship, Phillip remains committed to advancing aviation maintenance excellence and preparing future professionals for military and civilian aerospace careers.
Aerospace Engineering, Winter 2025 ( February 1 - March 8, Saturdays Only)
Ready to take off into the world of aerospace? This dynamic course is your gateway to exploring the exciting principles of flight, aerodynamic forces, and the magic of stability and control—all presented in a simple, easy-to-understand way with minimal math.
Students participate in a hands-on activity building model airplanes while focusing on the concepts of aircraft design, construction, and flight.
By the end of this six-session journey, you’ll not only have a solid grasp of key physics concepts at the heart of aerospace but also the confidence to think like an engineer. Each two-hour session builds on the last, guiding you from understanding air and airflow to the thrill of supersonic speeds and unmanned systems.
Course Flight Plan:
✈️ Session 1: Air, Airflow, Airfoils
✈️ Session 2: Deep Dive into Airfoils
✈️ Session 3: Power Up with Propulsion
✈️ Session 4: Takeoff, Level Flight, and Landing
✈️ Session 5: The Art of Gliding and Soaring
✈️ Session 6: Explore Transonic, Supersonic, and Unmanned Systems
Class Specs:
✈️ Minimum 10, Maximum 25 Students
✈️ Perfect for aspiring engineers and anyone who dreams of flying high!
Airframe Design and Fabrication, Spring 2025 (March 15 – April 19, Saturdays Only)
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the exciting world of aircraft design! Introduction to Airframe Design and Fabrication focuses on the practical skills and engineering principles behind aircraft structures.
This course emphasizes hands-on learning through engaging projects. You’ll:
✈️ Fabricate wood aircraft ribs
✈️ Install fabric coverings
✈️ Work with metal materials to understand their role in airframe construction
Along the way, you’ll explore key concepts like aerodynamics, material technology, and manufacturing methods, all with a focus on weight, strength, reliability, and minimizing drag. By the end of the course, you’ll have gained valuable experience and a solid understanding of the fundamentals of aircraft design.
Course Details:
✈️ Saturdays Only: March 15 – April 19, 2025
✈️ Minimum 10, Maximum 20 students
✈️ Open Enrollment Begins January 2025
If you’re eager to learn by doing, this course is the perfect opportunity to take your interest in aviation to the next level!
Open Enrollment Begins January 2025!
Basic Piloting, Summer 2025 (July 12th to August 16, Saturdays Only)
Basic Piloting: Explore the Foundations of Aviation
Take your first step into the world of aviation with Basic Piloting, an engaging introduction to the fundamentals of flying! This course provides an in-depth look at essential piloting concepts, including aircraft systems, instruments, communication, performance, and navigation.
Get hands-on experience as you:
✈️ Explore aircraft instruments and gauges
✈️ Learn charting and navigation basics
✈️ Practice radio communication with Air Traffic Control and other aircraft
This summer, we’re offering six identical Saturday sessions to fit your schedule. Each three-hour class is divided into two parts: two hours of classroom instruction and interactive activities, followed by an hour touring airplanes at the Museum’s Gillespie Hangar and observing live take-offs and landings at the adjacent Gillespie Field Airport runway.
Choose one of the following class dates:
Whether you’re curious about aviation or considering a career in the field, this course is the perfect introduction to the essentials of flight.
Course Details:
✈️ Saturdays Only (Choose One): July 12 – August 16, 2025
✈️ Minimum 10, Maximum 20 students per session
✈️ Open Enrollment Starts May 2025
Don’t miss your chance to explore the exciting world of aviation—register for your preferred date today!
Open Enrollment Begins January 2025!
Enrollment Fees:
Aerospace Engineering, $150 for six sessions (25 student limit)
Airframe Design and Fabrication, $150 for six sessions (20 student limit)
Basic Piloting, $30 for a 3-hour class. 6 classes are available between July and August 2025. (30 student limit per class)
Scholarships are available for need-based participants. For more information, contact Katrina Pescador at kpescador@sdasm.org.
2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA
Phone: 619.234.8291
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The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID Number 95-2253027.
