N85 Aerospace Club

Developing a Growth Mindset

Click here to view or download last year’s N85 Aerospace Club Brochure

 The science club that was created through the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program Grant started with 13 students from DVRHS in 2011. Jim Gessner (science teacher – DVRHS), and Linda Castner (Alexandria Airport – Part-Owner/Operator) managed the club. Alexandria Airport would be the local airport used as the home base. The club was opened to any and all students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with a focus on Aviation Transportation.

We have updated the name from The Central Jersey Aviation Education Science Club to the N85 Aerospace Club.

THE CLUB IS A WONDERFUL SUCCESS STORY FOR “STEM THROUGH THE LENS OF AVIATION

In the PAST a schedule of meetings and events was posted here weekly. The club conducted “hands-on” engineering projects, as well as visited aerospace companies, corporate aviation departments, university engineering schools, simulator facilities, military bases, and various museums.  We also scheduled speakers and project building events for the season.

How to get involved in the next School Year 2019-2020 

After almost a decade we are making a few changes in STEM Thru the Lens of Aviation via the N85 Aerospace Club. Our past format included regular monthly meetings as well as a variety of building projects open to students. Over the past 10 years Up, Up, and Away In Hunterdon, Inc. has built relationships with much larger organizations. We intend to be a location which offers a little of both projects and events in cooperation with others interested in aviation STEM.

CALL or email upupaway@embarqmail.com if you wish to be kept on the email list for what’s up OR just come to this site and see what is being planned.

CONTACT Linda Castner – upupaway@embarqmail.com -Visit us at Alexandria Field Airport (70 Airport Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867)

June 20th, 2019 We had 42 people participate in the club showcase and airport picnic.

May 16th, 2019 we had 23 people watching Tucker Gott fly his Paramotor and tell the entrepreneurial story of his company, “Risky Biscuits”

April 18th, 2019 had 17 people “listening” – Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) under the direction of Prof. Ronke Olabisi from Rutgers, Prof. Jon Wallace from Lafayette and via video Prof. Steve Croft from Berkeley.  We heard everything from radio stations to a satellite.

March 21st, 2019 had 23 engaged club members learning more about DRONES with Tyler Patton and Cliff Compton.

February 21st, 2019 the club enjoyed a presentation on Weight and Balance by Zach Ferreira with assistance from Orville Williams. 19 attended

January 17th, 2019 club members enjoyed an aircraft design challenge presented by Shawn Sheng and others worked on the Weight and Balance teaching tool.

December 13th, 2018 was a combination of the November meeting and a Christmas Party.  A large group of 36+ made quick build planes under the direction of Tim and David McKinnon.  Other enjoyed the Dynamite Room with Prof. Wallace, Bob Gower and Nick Brunetti – everyone ate cake!

November 15th, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30PM  Topic FLIGHTPATH with Shawn, Tim and David McKinnen was cancelled due to snow.

October 18th, 2018 – 1st full club meeting.  We had over 40 people in attendance.  Fun with Growth Mindset,Deep Practice, Spinning tools & tumble wings.

September, 20, 2018 was the PLANNING MEETING (not full club) 7-8:30PM.  We had 16 people in attendance and lots of good ideas.

June 28, 2018,  LAST MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  A “Showcase”, Picnic, combined event with N85 customers. Thursday, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.  We had a great turn out with more than 80+ people.  We presented the year’s finished projects  did Young Eagles flights, had picnic food and music.  Everyone agreed we do this each year combining the airport clients with the club members.

May 17, 2018, Thursday, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.  We worked on finalizing projects.  We assigned responsibilities for for the June Picnic event and had fun!

April 19, 2018, Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM was a full club meeting.  We had 14 attendees.  All projects were addressed with updates or actual work on them.  It was decided the last meeting of the year would be a Picnic in June on the 28th.  Airport and flight school clients will be invited to hear presentations given by the various projects groups.  The EAA will be doing a Young Eagles activity with Fred Slapa in charge.  The Breezy maybe ready for giving rides also.

March 15, 2018, was a full club meeting from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.  We had 17 attendees. A presentation from Sean Smith on his “Disney Dreamers Academy” adventure.  He was even on Good Morning America!  Prof. Wallace re-organized the Dynamite Room project team and gave a great powerpoint on the process moving forward as well as showed everyone a video of him in his flight simulator as a guideline for our proposed upgrades to the panel and for communication. The ChartArt people have finished their METAR and TAF pilot aid charts and we did an experiment on “supercooling” of water – still don’t have it down right!!!!!

February 15, 2018, was a full club meeting from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.  We had 24 attendees. It was a full working session – lots of FUN!

January 18, 2018, We had 24 attendees.  Members organized into project groups and new projects were introduced.  Mr. Shay demonstrated the new Handibot tool and explained the various ways it could be used in the project groups.  He and Sophia presented the Chart Art Project which received a great deal of interest in the sign up. Prof. Wallace explained the Radar opportunity.  The Katie – DOO game or Pedal Pitts Project is making great progress.The Dynamite Room has new legs for finishing up the panel with the aid of the Handibot and the club 3-D printer back in use. The Club was excited about the donated BREEZY aircraft.  In the cold they got to take a look at it in Linda’s hangar.  At the end of the evening people signed up for additional project work meetings to take place before the next full meeting.

December 14th was the HOLIDAY PARTY.  We had 21 people and lots of FUN.

November 16th meeting was all about Engines/Motors.  We had 28 people visit different learning stations where content experts answered questions.

October 19th was the first full Club Meeting at N85 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.  Sorry I forgot to take any photos :).  We did have 27 people!

September 21st the Advisers had a planning meeting.

The 2017 SUMMER was spent working on the Dynamite Room.  We worked on new ways to make the panel more realistic and on the back half of the room for the bench and messaging for students on Growth Mindset. View slider below:

July of 2017 we had camp.

June 22, 2017: The last full club meeting for the year – Picnic, Planning for next year, VR Drone with Mr. Shay and Shawn, DYNAMITE room check-outs and lots of fun.

May 18th, 2017: Cliff Compton from Aerial Photos of New Jersey gave a great presentation on commercial drone usage.  The club members also took turns with the DYNAMITE room simulator.

April 20th, 2017: Chuck and Mary Griffith gave a presentation on 1930’s Aircraft followed by a trip to their hangar at N85 to see their restoration WACO project. Twenty (20) attended for a very interesting program.  Thank you to the Griffiths and we are all looking forward to the “first flight” of their WACO.

March 17th Linda arranged for a Special Control Tower Tour of the Lehigh Valley International Airport.  Seventeen (17) participated and saw both the radar (ATC) room and the control tower at work  then listened to a discussion on careers working as a “controller”.  A big thank you to the FAA  for helping make this a great trip.

February 23rd, 2017:  Prof. Wallace from Lafayette introduced some activities involving RADAR. He was assisted by club members: Nick Longman, Shawn Sheng, and Daniel Szallai.

January 19th, 2017:Ronke Olabisi, Anna B. and Sammy L. presented a program on ROBOTICS.  There were two Powerpoints given on Robotics from both a historical perspective as well as looking ahead for careers in Robotics and what they might involve.  The 19 people in attendance divided into 4 groups to start building our Robotic Arms Kits.  Four people took kits home to finish.

December 15th, 2016: The club had a FUN NIGHT Christmas Party! 43 people enjoyed: lots of food, 3-D Printing, trying out the Flight Simulator, Secret Santa Bag for STEM gift exchange. Several past club members returned from college and their real world employment to add some cheer. The new club T-shirt samples were available to try on and order.

November 17th, 2016: The club was invited to attend  the Resnik Lecture “Exploring the Frontiers of Science, Engineering and Human Potential” at Lafayette University.  Thanks to club content expert, Prof. Jon Wallace 17 students and parents listened to Dr. Mae C. Jemison, a member of the team on the space shuttle Endeavor in 1992 then were able to ask questions up close and personal!

October 20th, 2016: 26 club members learned more about flight simulators from Nick Brunetti and Justin Marmorato. The club members spent time in our club simulator, signed-up for teams to continue working on carpeting, wall coverage, and museum-like displays.

2016 SUMMER PRPOJECT – Create a Disney/Cessna-inspired cockpit environment for our new Flight Simulator.  A great deal was accomplished over the summer  on the  “Disney-like” Flight Simulator.  The Club will work toward completion in the 2016-17 school year.

Photographs from 2015-2016 Meetings are below (in order of newest to oldest) The Management Board consisted of: Nick Longman, Daniel Szallai, “Sam” Leatherdale, Kyle LaChance, and  Miranda Evarts.

June 18, 2016 the last full meeting of the club for the 2015-2016 school year.  We had a party/picnic format.  Over 40 members were present with lots of great food.  Drones and RC’s were flown, Shawn trained a few students on the 3-D printer and the Summer Project was introduced.  Mr. Shay took people around his C-180 and John around his 1941 Cub.  We finished with an “air show” (first performance) by John with spins and stalls and “cub fun.  Thanks to Brian and Christian Jesby for manning the bar-bee.

May 19, 2016 was the most recent full club meeting – from 7-8:30PM at Alexandria Field.  The topic was collaboration opportunities with the Boise State Broncos aviation science club. the session was led by Linda and John W. from our club and Tim Phero from the Broncos by SKYPE. Planning was done for completing our Flight Simulator project and then adding virtual reality opportunities with the Bronco

April 27, 2016 was the most recent full club meeting – from 7-8:30PM at Alexandria Field.  The topic was “Drones”.  The session was led by: Bill shay, Daniel Szallai, Shawn Sheng and his father James Barnes from Jersey Hobby.  Lot’s of members showed up for this fun lecture and presentation of many types of drones as well as playing on a drone simulator with Tucker’s guidance.

March 17, 2016 was the most recent full club meeting – from 7-8:30PM at Alexandria Field.  The topic was “Arduino Boards”.  The group was lead by John Weigele, Tucker Gott , Sam Leatherdale, and Kyle LaChance.  The participants divided into two work groups – one for coding the lights to be placed on the RC Dusty and the other to manufacture the process.  At the end of the evening Dusty flew with Tucker as PIC all the lights worked – small error – wingtip lights reversed.

February 18, 2016 Was the last full meeting of the club.  The topic was the N85 Built Flight Simulator.  Nick Longman, Shawn Sheng and Kyle LaChance each gave presentations regarding the various phases of the building process.  Videos related to computer building were presented as well as lots of opportunities to look at the guts of a computer then play with the new pilot program.  John Weigele presented what will be happening in the next phase of the building involving the cockpit design and student who wanted to join in build team signed up.

January 21, 2016 It was a working session on “Connectors”.  The students learned and experimented with riveting, and putting together a business card holder of plastic by drilling holes then using screws and nuts to connect the pieces.  They also learned about welding: stick, TIG, and MIG.  Thank you to Keith Lukacheck, Orville Williamson and John Carvino for their expertise.

December 18th, 2015 was the last full club meeting of 2015.  It was our Christmas Party.  The group brought science related gifts wrapped from $10 to $15 dollars for exchange.  The gifts were great fun and very interested as well.  The food was a variety of everything from sandwiches to cookies and cake.  We discussed the 3-D printer building project progress as well as the new Flight Simulator building project.

Gilvey, Barker Carlock and Shawn Sheng presented on 3-D Printing.  The club members were given a power point presentation on 3-D printing followed by coding preparation of selected items.  Then they saw a printer Shawn had built and were given an explanation and demonstration.

October 15th 2015: For our first full club meeting of the 2015-2016 year, Mr. Richard Bitzer from the New Jersey Astronomical Association (NJAA) came and talked about careers in astronomy and engineering. Bob Starcher and two others from the NJAA also came and helped assemble the telescopes and with night rocket launch.

Photographs From the 2014 – 2015 School Year Meetings are Below (in order of newest to oldest)

June 23rd was the final meeting for the year: We celebrated graduations and flew the Disney planes.  Lot’s of planning ideas for the coming season were discussed and we elected a new management board.

May 21, 2015: The guest speaker was Scott Hartley.  He had a great presentation on his home built (his design) RC aircraft.  Scott had a slide presentation of the entire project, as well as, testing documents done by an aeronautical engineer years ago for the structural integrity of the plane.

May 1st and May 2nd participation in the New Jersey State Aviation Conference  Friday we had a team go to Princeton and manage the media control center as well as film the event.  On Saturday we had a very nice club presentation with 4 tables of projects and the wind tunnel set up.

April 16, 2015: Tucker Gott flew his Para-Motor and answered all questions about how it worked, how to purchase and get trained.  We  discussed the NJ State Aviation Conference activities for the club members.  Sorry we lost the photos 

March 19, 2015: Linda Castner gave a presentation on Kevin Ashton’s book, “How to Fly a Horse”.  Several experiential activities were done by the group on problem solving: thinking outside the box, candle mounted on a door, and some Sherlock Holmes scenarios. We also celebrated the birthday’s of John and Tucker.

February, 19, 2015: Guest speakers discussing various career options in aviation.

January, 15, 2015: The first meeting after the holidays included setting dates for the project meetings and then looking at a video on the “tumblewing”, building them and practicing flying them.

December, 18 2014: The December meeting we celebrated the holidays with the science of baking- what happens between batter and cake.

November 16, 2014: Denise Jesby presented a chemistry lab on pH factors in various products.

Project Working Meetings:

Arduino Boards

For the final Arduino Meeting of this club year the members designed rocket launchers powered by Arduinos. The launchers have digital displays and were programed to count down and ignite the rockets. All were able to launch rockets and we all had a great time shooting them off!

Wind Tunnel

Disney Quick Build Planes

October 16, 2014: Second Meeting of the current year. Fifty people participated. Projects started with material selection and ordering, along with demonstrations of the building processes. The meeting concluded with a presentation from Blake Schuette, Senior at Auburn University, covering her aviation career journey.

September 16, 2014: First Meeting of the current year. Thirty-nine people attended. Dr. Ronke Olabisi gave a example of how the ear gets disoriented in space.

Past Meetings and Events for the 2013-14 School Year
June 8, 2014: The Central Jersey Aviation Education Science Club went to The American Museum of Natural History in NYC.  They were guests of Mick Ellison, Sr. Principal Artist, Dept. of Paleontology.  The club made microraptor was a hit with the staff.

May 15, 2014:  The club met and debriefed regarding the aviation conference and discussed and club organization for the next school year.

May 2 – 3, 2014: Presenting at Princeton for the New Jersey State Aviation Conference

March 20 and April 10th, 2014: The club practiced their talks for the May New Jersey State Aviation Conference.

February 20th, 2014: The club continued working on their projects and ordered their new t-shirts

January 16, 2014: Bob Gower (past camper/N85 trained pilot & current engineer) presented talked about his current job with Air Products

December 19, 2013: Club Holiday Party!

November 21, 2013 : The club thanks Mr. Moncourtis for giving a great lecture about rockets.

October 17, 2013: The club seperated into groups and worked on projects.

September 19, 2013: Organizational Meeting. We had a turnout of 9 parents and advisors as well as 14 students. Officers are Savern Lau (President) , Sean LaCourte (Vice President) , and Miranda Evarts (Communications Director). The selections of projects this year include: table top wind tunnel, 4-winged dinosaur model flight testing, giant RC foam plane, Airways SF model jet , and the N85 business planning map. Below is a group photo:

Here are last years 2013-2014 projects:

  • Four Winged Dinosaur Testing
  • Wind tunnel
  • Giant Foam R-C Plane
  • Model R-C Jet

Four Winged Dinosaur Testing

Previous Years June 20,2013: The club resumed work on their projects. Tuck and Eddie worked on the controls of the large foam plane. Sean worked with Orville on the model wing. John constructed a model windsock with Chris and Nick.

June 6,2013: Tyler Miller gave a presentation on tanker aircraft. The club continued to work on the large foam airplane with the goal of finishing for the July 20th Airport BBQ.

May 16, 2013: The club dicussed options for the July 20 event. A big thanks to Rich Szallai for donating a new tool kit. Blake Schuette (returning from Auburn University) donated a new project to the club. The group spent time outside with Tucker and Eddie watching and learning how to fly radio control planes.

May 2, 2013: The club continued to work on their projects and began to prepare for the July Mini Air Show. April 18, 2013: The club agreed to submit a nomination for the Crossfield Aerospace Education Award. Thre group continued to work on the hover craft and 10′ wingspan foam plane. No interesting pictures are available… April 11, 2013: The club took a visit to the Lehigh Valley International Airport Control Tower and TRACON room. Pictures were prohibited by the FAA inside the tower itself, so there are no pictures from within. All had fun.

March 28, 2013: The club met to discuss possible future projects and opportunities. Orville Williamson and Jennifer Kluber Wolfram (GIS Specialist for Michael Baker Jr. Inc.) led the group in mapping and measurement fundamentals.

March 14, 2013: The first meeting for the Airspace and Navigation Module. Club members showed off their projects. Blake Schuette discussed the Message Drop Project for the July 20 Little Airshow. Jim Gessner began the lesson.

February 28, 2013: The last meeting for the Maintenance Module. The Club visited the airport mechanic shop.

February 16, 2013: The Club took a trip to CAE Simuflite in Whippany, New Jersey.

January 31, 2013: The club was involved in a building project led by Orville Williamson. They made wing spars and covered a 10 foot wooden wing model.

January 17, 2013: Club meeting at Alexandria Field Airport. Thank you to Don Riggs for bringing his RV and Don Gordon for bringing his boat. The members also took apart and reassembled a 4-stroke engine.

January 15, 2013: Club trip to Lehigh Valley University. Thirty club members were met by Prof. Terry Hart and 2 of his graduate students. Terry’s presentaion was on the last 100 years of aviation. The graduate students gave a tour of the engineering lab and the project, modified lunar lander, that they have been working on with Penn State.

December 19, 2012: Second lesson of the Module at Delaware Valley Regional High School. Mr. Gessner led a group of 20 through a variety of material lessons and hands on activities. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, there are no pictures from the meeting. November 29, 2012: First lesson of the History of Aircraft Design and Materials module.

November 13, 2012: Final Aerodynamics of Flight Module lesson. The group constructed airfoils out of foam with a hand made hot wire system. The group assembled the foam pieces into small gliders and tested them.

October 25 , 2012: Second formal CJAESC meeting. 20 participants showed for continuation of aerodynamics. Tucker and Eddie showed the four forces of flight and how to make an airfoil out of foam.

October 11 , 2012: First formal Central Jersey Aviation Education Science Club! 25 participants showed.Aerodynamics taught by Tucker Gott and Eddie Hannon. Image on the right shows displays in the back room.

August 30, 2012: Several club members participated in washing and waxing the flight school planes. Clockwise from top left: Savern and Sage Lau, Christopher Wirkus, Eddie Hannon, and the Lau brothers again.

July 9-13, 2012: Several club members participated in the “Cleared for Takeoff” Aviation Science Camp this year. Tucker Gott and John Weigele were camp instructors teaching various subjects from aerodynamics to weather theories. Savern Lau and Max Andreychak delivered a presentation to the campers on aircraft materials and the science behind them. Also a thank you to Naveed and Caroline for their help with the camp as well. Saturday, March 17, 2012: Tour of BASF Flight Department at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, NJ. A big thank you to Eric Bosshard (Chief Pilot) for setting up the tour of the facility. The Aviation Science Club had many opportunities to ask questions and learned a lot about BASF North America.

Saturday, January 28, 2012: Tour of the MAN Diesel & Turbo North America facility in Woodbridge, NJ. There were a total of 16 participants including 6 students, 4 parents, 1 high school teacher, 1 airport operator, 3 MAN Diesel representatives and Linda Castner.

Torkel Tellefsen went out of his way to provide a wonderful learning experience for all. The classroom presentation, as well as the walking tour, provided the opportunity for many questions. The added MAN Diesel & Turbo “goodie bags” provided for everyone, were both educational and fun.