New Scottish Aviation and STEM Website launched
Published on: 10 May 2021
THE RAF IN SCOTLAND, in collaboration with 4 Scottish Regional Air Museums and the RAF Museum, is launching an exciting new website, the Scottish Aviation & STEM Trail, at www.scottishaviation.org.uk. The Trail brings together the history of aviation in Scotland and promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities for all ages, using the past to inspire the next generation.
The Scottish Aviation & STEM Trail is the result of over 3 years of work by the RAF in Scotland, including the Scottish University Air Squadrons, Air Cadets and the RAF Museum with the Scottish Regional Air Museums and aviation enthusiasts from around the country.
The Trail will eventually be hosted on the main RAF Museum website and veterans, enthusiasts and other members of the public are all encouraged to contribute to the site to enable it to grow and develop. Going forward, the Trail will have stories of famous Scots involved in aviation, the holders of gallantry awards and the role of Scottish industry and academia to this day in creating cutting-edge technology.
Air Officer Scotland, AVM Ross Paterson said:
“We are delighted to be launching the Aviation & STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Trail and really hope it will be of interest to many people of all ages, celebrating Scotland’s key part in the development of aviation. Scotland has a wealth of aviation history and continues to play a key role today in protecting our nation. Hopefully, schools and young people will not only find our STEM material fun and informative but will also be inspired to look at the huge range of STEM careers that are needed for our future world. The site also promotes our Flying Aces Scheme, offering flight experience to disabled and disadvantaged Scottish youngsters, so we hope we can encourage more to take part in this too.
Aviation is still a young science – it is only 117 years since the first ever powered flight – yet today we talk easily of space travel and each of us use satellites and advanced technology every day. By linking the past with the future, we hope that people will want to learn more, adding their own family stories via the ‘RAF Stories’ link and then visit and support the Scottish Regional Air Museums as part of this.”
Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF Museum said:
“It is wonderful to be working with our RAF colleagues in Scotland on such an inspiring project. As well as sharing the stories of the Royal Air Force we are passionate about engaging young minds with science and technology, in order to build a brighter and better future. The RAF itself has always been at the forefront of utilising technological advances as a force for good and we look forward to continuing to develop creative projects like this with them in the future.”
The site can be found at: www.scottishaviation.org.uk