Unleash Your Inner Aviator with Introductory Courses at the San Diego Air & Space Museum's Gillespie Field Annex!

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is excited to offer three thrilling introductory courses in aerospace for students aged 15-18! These engaging classes will provide foundational workforce training in STEM concepts and aeronautics, all held at our Gillespie Field Annex at 335 Kenney Street, El Cajon, CA 92020. Join us for our winter 2024 session of Aerospace Engineering from November 16 to December 21, 2024, where you'll build model airplanes and explore the principles of flight mechanics. Next, dive into Airframe Design and Fabrication during our Spring 2025 session, from March 8 to April 6, and learn about aircraft structure and materials through hands-on projects. Finally, experience Basic Piloting from July 12 to August 16, 2025, where you’ll explore the essentials of aviation, including aircraft systems and live take-offs at the airport!

Classes for the Winter and Spring sessions will take place on consecutive Saturdays from 9-11 AM over six weeks, while the Summer course offers an exciting three-hour experience every Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to ignite your passion for aerospace and take your first step toward an exhilarating future in aviation! Enroll now and let your dreams take flight!

Aerospace Engineering, Winter 2024 (November 16 – December 21, Saturdays Only)
Join us every Saturday from 9 AM to 11 AM for an exciting introduction to Aerospace Engineering! This course covers the fundamental principles of flight mechanics, aerodynamic forces, and the stability and control of flying objects, all presented in an accessible format with a minimal amount of mathematical computation. Students will engage in hands-on activities, building model airplanes while exploring key concepts in aircraft design, construction, and flight. Expected learning outcome is that students will gain a basic level understanding of fundamental concepts in physics that are central to aerospace.  

Enrollment: Minimum of 10, Maximum of 25 students. Open enrollment begins October 2024.

ENROLL NOW!

Airframe Design and Fabrication, Spring 2025 (March 8 – April 6, Saturdays Only)
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of aircraft design! This course invites students to explore the essential elements of aircraft structure and materials, blending principles of aerodynamics, materials technology, and manufacturing techniques. You’ll embark on exciting hands-on projects, crafting wooden aircraft ribs, applying fabric coverings, and working with metal materials, all while focusing on key concepts like weight, strength, reliability, and aerodynamic drag. Expected learning outcome is that students will obtain a fundamental understanding of engineering principles critical to aircraft design.  

Enrollment: Minimum of 10, Maximum of 20 students. Open enrollment begins January 2025.

Basic Piloting, Summer 2025 (July 12 – August 16, Saturdays Only)
Explore the thrilling world of aviation in our Basic Piloting course! Students will delve into key aviation concepts, including aircraft systems, instruments, communication, performance, and navigation. This hands-on experience involves exploring aircraft instruments (including gauges), charting, and communicating with Air Traffic Control and other aircraft. Students will acquire essential knowledge that serves as a stepping stone to a future career in aviation.

This engaging three-hour class includes two hours of interactive classroom instruction followed by an hour of touring the Museum’s Gillespie Hangar and watching live take-offs and landings at Gillespie Field Airport.

Enrollment: Minimum of 10, Maximum of 20 students. Open enrollment begins June 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. Six classes available from July to August 2025 (30 student limit per class)

Scholarships are available for need-based participants.

For more information, contact Katrina Pescador at kpescador@sdasm.org.