Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

1. My working EQ is “What is the best way I can maximize the enjoyment of a visitor at an aircraft based museum?”

2. A possible answer to my working EQ is “Staff must be able actively engage with visitors by utilizing both communication skills and knowledge of their job and artifacts.”

3. My important sources for a possible answer to my working EQ are my interviews with Thomas Gallucci who is an aircraft Detialer at Planes of Fame and Mayra Aparicao who is the Volunteer Manager at the California Science Center.

4. I’m doing my mentorship at both Planes of Fame in Chino, CA and the California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Monthly Blog Assignment October: FIRST DAY AT PLANES OF FAME / Reflection Pictures

Hello, everyone. Benny here. Similar to my previous monthly posts, I'll be going over my initial thoughts and observations from whatever specific events(s) I came across. This month's post was about the Planes of Fame monthly event where I was able to meet Michael V. Ciminera, author of The Aircraft Designers A Grumman Historical Perspective which is one of my research check books. Once again, if you want a more descriptive paragraph about my mentorship duties, please refer to my Mentorship Log (9/20/14). Other than that, let's get started.

As I stated previously in blog #7, one of the things I planned on doing for Independent Component #1 was to take a design class to help me with my mentorship at Planes of Fame. My mother suggested to me that in correlation with my independent component  I should attend the Planes of Fame monthly event which would have Michael V. Ciminera as one the speakers. Michael V. Ciminera was the former Vice President of Northrop Grumman. He joined Northrop Grumman 50 years ago as a college apprentice and gained insight into aircraft design from famous airplane designers who were alive at the time. Michael helped design various Northrop Aircraft and was eventually in charge of several Northrop Grumman aircraft Fire Scout, UCAS and the X-47B. His book, The Aircraft Designers A Grumman Historical Perspective, details the background of various Norhtrop Grumman engineers, designers, founders, and aircraft since its start during the early 1900's.

On the day of the event, Michael V. Ciminera was the first speaker. He talked about the various sections of his book and the work and effort he put into it to represent the men and women who worked at Northrop Grumman. After the event, I was able to speak to Michael V. Ciminera about my senior project. He gave me his business card and to contact the number if I needed additional help. After he signed my copy of his book, I returned back to my work station and continued dusting airplanes.

Well with this I will end my monthly blog. It was a change of scene for me to meet one of the guys who may have designed or trained under the guys who designed the aircraft that I clean. Hearing Michael speak and also reading his book had also opened my eyes into how aircraft is designed and it how it incorporates multiple fields. Well with that I bid a far well. Until next time, take care everyone.

Michael during his presentation.

Michael signing my copy.

A picture of me and Michael.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. For Independent Component #1, I plan on taking an Introduction to Computer Aided Design (CAD) at Citrus College where I will learn how to render drawings in various dimensions on paper and on computer.

2. Aside the required mentorship log, I plan to show evidence of my work by submitting both evidence of work I have done in my CAD class, along with a step by step guide in which I rendered a drawing. I will also provide a transcript from Citrus College to prove that I actually took the class and got a grade for it.

3. Through both my mentorship at Planes of Fame and the California Science Center along with the Research Check, my senior topic is narrowing down from museums in general to airplane museums. Based upon my research, aircraft museums are unique in that the museum workers (mainly the Restoration Team) consult various manuals and blueprints to keep their aircraft maintained or else the aircraft will break apart and rust. As the Restoration Team at Planes of Fame relies heavily on blueprints, I believe that with my knowledge from this class, I will be able to transfer their blueprints onto a computer so as to make it easier and more accessible to the team.  My second reason for taking the class is that by learning the process in which aircraft are designed, it would allow me to get a better understanding as to why airplanes in the museum are designed in a certain way.

4. Updated.