Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester - the cradle of the first British jet engine – is set to become a national centre for hands-on education about jet engines. A new permanent interactive exhibition which opens this week at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) allows school children and other visitors to see inside a state-of-the-art jet engine and design their own engine. ‘So you think You Can Design a Jet Engine’ showcases the virtual 3D Rolls-Royce Trent 900 jet engine on the Airbus A380, and aims to inspire young people about engineering.

In 1937 Metropolitan-Vickers began working in Trafford Park to develop the first British axial jet engine, which was later continued by Rover and Rolls-Royce. North West jet engines powered Britain’s first jet bomber (English Electric Canberra) and the first truly supersonic aeroplane (English Electric P1A), both of which were made at Warton near Preston.

The new exhibition will be used as part of the education package MOSI offers for schools, as well as for other visitors to the Museum. The display, which has already been successfully showcased on stands at the Farnborough and Southport Air Shows, has been designed by the University of Manchester and is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Stephen Mycock, a teacher at Stretford Grammar School said: “The jet engine display fits very well into the new science GCSE as it shows how scientists use the properties of materials for real life uses, which is a very important part of the syllabus. It is a fun and interactive simulation and it is harder than it first seems to make the plane fly! The display also helps pupils to realise that there are many different jobs for scientists after university as well as the traditional career routes of doctors and dentists.”

Nick Forder, transport curator at MOSI said: “Many museums display jet engines but MOSI is the only one in Britain where you can really learn how jet engines work and what they are made out of. So many of the milestones of jet engine development are North West achievements and ‘So you think you can design a jet engine?!’ continues the engineering legacy of Manchester does it first!”

Professor Withers said: “Our state-of-the-art stereoscopic 3D journey through a jet engine allows young people to see how the engine works and to design a jet engine of their own to see if it can fly. We have found it to be a great way to showcase novel research going on within universities, and hopefully inspire engineers of the future!” 

‘So You Think You Can Design a Jet Engine’ is part of a public engagement programme that was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering/Nexus Solutions Education Innovation Award in 2007. The exhibition opens on 29 January at MOSI’s Air & Space Hall, Liverpool Road, Castlefield.

For more information contact Sarah Roe, press and publicity officer Tel: 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647 or Diane Inglis or Diane Inglis on Tel: 0161 606 0173 www.mosi.org.uk

Or Kevin Tan Kevin.Tan@manchester.ac.uk

www.tools4schools.org.uk

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