View Poll Results: What started you in Engineering?
Mechano
11
12.50%
Lego
17
19.32%
Spent my childhood taking everything to bits
43
48.86%
Other
17
19.32%
Voters: 88. This poll is closed
How did you get started in Engineering?
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: South UK
started off by pulling my sisters bike to pieces then the old mans lawn- mower......after the 'rebuild' i'd always had a few bits left over
................aviation in the blood, airfield within walking distance & a PPL mix it up & 10 yrs l8er I'm repairing shiny Boeing & Airbuses..............not so many bits left over these days!
................aviation in the blood, airfield within walking distance & a PPL mix it up & 10 yrs l8er I'm repairing shiny Boeing & Airbuses..............not so many bits left over these days!
Mistrust in Management
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 986
Likes: 11
From: UK
Lego hadn't been invented I don't think
Voted for taking everything to bits, but I also was an avid fan of Meccano.
I'm in my 50's and have been flying for 28 years after a short career as a LAME, and I still spend a lot of time taking things to bits - once it's in your blood I guess. Although I do really enjoy flying I still get a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of hands on practical work - one day I'll get the hang of it!
By the way I used to have real trouble changing the JT9D-3A stator anti-ice valve actuator as my fingers seemed to be just a little too short (my nickname was 'stumpy'). Anybody else find it difficult?
Regards
Exeng
I'm in my 50's and have been flying for 28 years after a short career as a LAME, and I still spend a lot of time taking things to bits - once it's in your blood I guess. Although I do really enjoy flying I still get a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of hands on practical work - one day I'll get the hang of it!
By the way I used to have real trouble changing the JT9D-3A stator anti-ice valve actuator as my fingers seemed to be just a little too short (my nickname was 'stumpy'). Anybody else find it difficult?
Regards
Exeng
PPRuNe Engineering Dept Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Deep in the boglands of Western Ireland
It started with a small space hopper thing (Which I, at my young age, thought was a helicopter) and a police car. After building the respective items by instructions, I broke the two of them up and made a police helicopter. I was about 5 or 6 at the time.
From that age till I was 11-ish the obsession just grew. Every Christmas, more Lego. A Police station, a Fire station, Space Shuttle (Thank God, my first aircraft bits!) and in later years a pirate ship and a castle, among many many kits I got. I didn't have a playroom, I had a "Lego room". Things got even better when Tomy made train sets that were Lego-compatible!
As always with any lego set you got for Xmas/birthday/whatever, you built the original design from instructions, and then when you got bored, smash it went. Then the good bit starts. You get an idea of what to make, and then put it together with hotch-potch bits from all over the shop. You might make ,say, a trike, by using the 4x2 flat you got from the fire engine set, A one wheel 2x2 axle from a microlight set, a 2 wheel axle from a construction jeep, and two "levers" that came with the police car set and were aerials on the car. There were whole biuildings made in this style, and the possibilities were endless. I remember a Ghostbusters car, a ferry port, a transport company, an airplane with an opening rear ramp, and endless mad scientist inventions with all doohickeys and thingimibobs everywhere.
Oh those were great times, even if I did miss football, and freinds.
So here I am now gagging to get back into college to the metalwork shop, with a massive love for my chosen subject, Mech Eng. Before aircraft, there was Lego. The aircraft obsession came with a computer game, but that's another story. Lego did so much to put me on the path I'm on, and I'm very grateful and fond of the stuff. It's in a box, in the attic, waiting for the day when I give it to a wee little'un who'll matter more to me than all the other little'uns. So Lego, cheers mate.
But I still can't hold a footy conversation and have few freinds (if any). Damn.
From that age till I was 11-ish the obsession just grew. Every Christmas, more Lego. A Police station, a Fire station, Space Shuttle (Thank God, my first aircraft bits!) and in later years a pirate ship and a castle, among many many kits I got. I didn't have a playroom, I had a "Lego room". Things got even better when Tomy made train sets that were Lego-compatible!
As always with any lego set you got for Xmas/birthday/whatever, you built the original design from instructions, and then when you got bored, smash it went. Then the good bit starts. You get an idea of what to make, and then put it together with hotch-potch bits from all over the shop. You might make ,say, a trike, by using the 4x2 flat you got from the fire engine set, A one wheel 2x2 axle from a microlight set, a 2 wheel axle from a construction jeep, and two "levers" that came with the police car set and were aerials on the car. There were whole biuildings made in this style, and the possibilities were endless. I remember a Ghostbusters car, a ferry port, a transport company, an airplane with an opening rear ramp, and endless mad scientist inventions with all doohickeys and thingimibobs everywhere.
Oh those were great times, even if I did miss football, and freinds.
So here I am now gagging to get back into college to the metalwork shop, with a massive love for my chosen subject, Mech Eng. Before aircraft, there was Lego. The aircraft obsession came with a computer game, but that's another story. Lego did so much to put me on the path I'm on, and I'm very grateful and fond of the stuff. It's in a box, in the attic, waiting for the day when I give it to a wee little'un who'll matter more to me than all the other little'uns. So Lego, cheers mate.
But I still can't hold a footy conversation and have few freinds (if any). Damn.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: UK
Watching a lot of Thunderbirds in the '60s and early '70s.
Maybe if they screened something like that today we'd get some more young engineers instead of people qualified in media studies. Although I wonder how many media studies it would take to make a new Thunderbirds today?
Maybe if they screened something like that today we'd get some more young engineers instead of people qualified in media studies. Although I wonder how many media studies it would take to make a new Thunderbirds today?
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: ex-Abu Dhabi now back in Carrot Cruncher Land
Wanted to be a pilot and rather fancied being a test pilot. Thought that an engineering degree would be useful for that.
However.....................failed the 3rd medical I had with the RAF, (passed the first 2 and also received a Special Flying Award and got a PPL) due to an 'odd' heart (bicuspid aortic valve if you must know!) not detected by first two medicals. After being declared unfit for general duties got offered a university cadetship for engineering branch of RAF but declined on the grounds of; "If you won't let me fly your aeroplanes I sure as hell don't want to fix them just for other people!"
Took the most lucrative post after graduating and ended up in the oil & gas business. It has been pretty good to me over the years allowing me to travel, live in many countries, put my kids through private school and have a reasonable standard of living at no expense to myself.
Not too many regrets......................but would love to have flown fast jets!
However.....................failed the 3rd medical I had with the RAF, (passed the first 2 and also received a Special Flying Award and got a PPL) due to an 'odd' heart (bicuspid aortic valve if you must know!) not detected by first two medicals. After being declared unfit for general duties got offered a university cadetship for engineering branch of RAF but declined on the grounds of; "If you won't let me fly your aeroplanes I sure as hell don't want to fix them just for other people!"
Took the most lucrative post after graduating and ended up in the oil & gas business. It has been pretty good to me over the years allowing me to travel, live in many countries, put my kids through private school and have a reasonable standard of living at no expense to myself.
Not too many regrets......................but would love to have flown fast jets!
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 581
Likes: 23
From: Australia
Hmm - our management won't let us use Lego to fix the aircraft anymore.
Same route really, large pile of Lego as a youngster. Toyed with the idea of an industrial technology degree (robots and the like) until I lost interest in school and they lost interest in me and suggested I leave.
Ended up fixing photocopiers for a year 'til I got made redundant so joined the Air Force, recruiter asked me what I'd been doing, when he heard fixing photocopiers, he pointed me in the dirtection of avionics.
Same route really, large pile of Lego as a youngster. Toyed with the idea of an industrial technology degree (robots and the like) until I lost interest in school and they lost interest in me and suggested I leave.
Ended up fixing photocopiers for a year 'til I got made redundant so joined the Air Force, recruiter asked me what I'd been doing, when he heard fixing photocopiers, he pointed me in the dirtection of avionics.
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: UK
Inevitable really, Meccano to start with followed by many years of taking things apart and not always getting them back together. Betta Builder, Lego, Model Aircraft etc
My father was in the RAF as an electrician during the war, Grandfather was a aircraftsman in the Royal Naval Air Service (Still got his original wooden tool box with all sorts of things inside). Relative in the RAAF as a fitter.
Didn't really stand a chance at any other employment, but no regrets at all, had some great times.
Mike Echo
My father was in the RAF as an electrician during the war, Grandfather was a aircraftsman in the Royal Naval Air Service (Still got his original wooden tool box with all sorts of things inside). Relative in the RAAF as a fitter.
Didn't really stand a chance at any other employment, but no regrets at all, had some great times.
Mike Echo
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Near a very good pub in rural Oxfordshire :-)
Was never remotely interested in engineering (have trouble replenishing engine oil and windscreen fluid on the car!)... just wanted to fly.
Grandfather was a gun fitter on ships, whilst my father was an RAF engine technician for the first 5 years of his service and a pilot for the final 38... reckon my family's done its time as engineers.
Main aim was to join the RAF. Eyesight wasn't good enough for pilot, navigator, air traffic or fighter control. Engineer was the next on the list to get to work near aeroplanes. As a result, went to University, got engineering degree and joined RAF. Don't regret being a fast jet sqn engineer in my 20s - very rewarding job. Good job I accumulated civilian flying experience in the background though...
Finally had a breakthrough on the eyesight front 6 months ago... told the RAF I'm leaving next April after 18-and-a-half years... commercial aviation here I come!
Even in pilotland, I still find the technical subjects the hardest!
Grandfather was a gun fitter on ships, whilst my father was an RAF engine technician for the first 5 years of his service and a pilot for the final 38... reckon my family's done its time as engineers.
Main aim was to join the RAF. Eyesight wasn't good enough for pilot, navigator, air traffic or fighter control. Engineer was the next on the list to get to work near aeroplanes. As a result, went to University, got engineering degree and joined RAF. Don't regret being a fast jet sqn engineer in my 20s - very rewarding job. Good job I accumulated civilian flying experience in the background though...
Finally had a breakthrough on the eyesight front 6 months ago... told the RAF I'm leaving next April after 18-and-a-half years... commercial aviation here I come!
Even in pilotland, I still find the technical subjects the hardest!
Joined: Oct 2001
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: East Sussex
My father was an Aircraft Engineer, so was his father. It is therefore 'in the blood' and so I followed their footsteps. Now, I am pleased to say that two of my sons are also Aircraft Engineers and the other one is working towards his CPL, but currently working in an Ops Department at LGW. I have forgiven the one who wishes to fly and given him my blessing. I have told him that we can't all be clever enough to be Engineers. He has thanked me and asked for forgiveness at bringing shame on the family. (TIC)
Temps
Temps
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: on land
Grandfarther (mothers side) A+C, my father E+I. now me, B1 B2 over 60 years+ !Be nice for the lad to follow on, but have to wait 12 more years for that.
A lot of aircraft have been and gone in 60 years I wonder what type will fly in 60 more?
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: UK & places
Joined the army and sat the exams. Bloke-in-charge said I scored enough to be an air tech. He said I ought to have a go because there was more money in it! Been at it for nearly forty years and I'm still waiting for the money.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: The land of Scones,Jam and Clotted Cream
Wanted to be a helicopter pilot, but got conned by the Army into going into engineering. Once in - no escape! Left the Army after 9 years, but 32 years later still an engineer, and like it or hate it, I wouldn't change my job. Glutton for punishment!?
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
What types indeed looks good to me? When I worked for Big Airways a long time ago (24 years), one of my colleagues was sent on a Concorde course two years before he was due to retire. He had over 45 years in the business at the time and we asked him what was the first aircraft he had worked on. "Ah that'd be the Graf Zeppelin" he said "We were in the Boy scouts and we were rounded up to man the mooring ropes at Croydon when the Zeppelin paid a visit." Quite a span eh? His first fixed wing licence was on the De Havilland Rapide, but he's gone fishing now, bless him.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Nirvana South
Have to vote "Other" as I was brought up under the Chivenor approach watching Hunters plus the usual Battle of Britain Days (first flight in a Cambrian Airways' Rapide!) plus Airfix kits etc etc.
First real aircraft I worked on as an apprentice was the 1-11 on the Hurn line - still one of the most underated types as it brought jet travel to the majority of Europe AND the States. Funny thing is I'm still working on a 1-11 direct descendant all these years later (the CRJ series). Often wonder how an updated (say CF34-powered, current structural standards i.e. lighter) 1-11 would do in today's market.
First real aircraft I worked on as an apprentice was the 1-11 on the Hurn line - still one of the most underated types as it brought jet travel to the majority of Europe AND the States. Funny thing is I'm still working on a 1-11 direct descendant all these years later (the CRJ series). Often wonder how an updated (say CF34-powered, current structural standards i.e. lighter) 1-11 would do in today's market.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Crawley
At fifteen years old my Dad looked at me & wondered how he could get me off his hands. It was either the "Pit" (Mining) or the RAF. I had a very poor education & was a bit of a plank. I wanted to be an Archaeologist (still do !). Saw an Ad in "Eagle" comic & had an exam,IQ test & interview with Squadron Ldr. Candy at RAF Halton. Joined the RAF at 15 1/2 years old. You could in them
days ! Have had a long & interesting career as a Licenced Tech.
in Avionics (Full B2), all A/C types. Retiring in 2 years time. Thanks to Dad,Sqdn.Ldr.Candy,RAF & Civvy Street
days ! Have had a long & interesting career as a Licenced Tech.
in Avionics (Full B2), all A/C types. Retiring in 2 years time. Thanks to Dad,Sqdn.Ldr.Candy,RAF & Civvy Street