On Wednesday 26 August, the Grammar Propulsion Laboratory club hosted AstraCon, a pupil-led conference for pupils from various Sydney high schools, exploring the world of aeronautics and aviation.
Associate Professor Nicholas Lawson from the Aeronautical Engineering department, University of Sydney, provided insights into contemporary aeronautical engineering, emerging developments in the field, and pathways into aerospace study and research. Qantas A330 First Officer Wayne Daly shared his journey into commercial aviation. He described the training, qualifications and professional experiences required to become an airline pilot, as well as the realities of operating modern commercial aircraft. Declan Walsh, Senior Aerospace Engineer with Boeing Defence Australia, discussed the challenges and opportunities of modern aerospace engineering.
In the question-and-answer sessions that followed, the pupils asked interesting and highly technical questions that showed their fascination with the world of aeronautics.
