Kansas City Students to Get STEM Classroom on Retired Jet

 

Students in Kansas City will soon have a new STEM classroom inside a refurbished two-story jumbo jet.

The Kansas City-based non-profit group TriStar Experience recently flew the Lockheed L-1011 from Tucson to its new home, where it will be converted into an environment designed to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and education and careers in aviation and related fields.

The jet was mothballed for 15 years in Tucson, AZ before TriStar acquired it and eventually flew it to Kansas City the Saturday before last. The jet began its life in 1974 and was converted in the 1990s into a flying hospital for Operation Blessing International.

TriStar owns two other planes and a flight simulator that it uses to teach students about STEM and aviation through ground-based and in-flight experiences.

"The idea is to inspire the kids with these big, really cool toys where they can get up close and personal and see the lessons being played out real time to inspire them to actually look into those areas for further study to peruse in high school or college and then ultimately go into aviation related careers," said Mike Saxton, vice president at TriStar Experience, according to a report about the project.

More information is available at tristarexperience.org.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • AI toolbox containing a wrench, document icon, gears, and a network symbol

    Common Sense Media Releases Free AI Toolkit, AI Readiness & Implementation Guides

    Common Sense Media has developed an AI Toolkit for School Districts, available to educators free of charge, that provides guidelines and resources for implementing AI in education.

  • elementary school building with children outside, overlaid by a glowing data network and transparent graphs

    Toward a Holistic Approach to Data-Informed Decision-Making in Education

    With increasing access to data and powerful analytic tools, the temptation to reduce educational outcomes to mere numbers is strong. However, educational leadership demands a more holistic and thoughtful approach.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.