Stellar Academy of Engineering students traveled to the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, located at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, to tour the F/A-18 Hornet Strike Fighter Aircraft Production Line. The trip was organized by Stellar Academy of Engineering Advisory Board member Alexis Alexandris, and allowed the students to get a first-hand look at how the jets are maintained and repaired. Students also got to visit the Industrial Manufacturing Division and the materials labs; at each stop the students had the chance to speak with engineers. The students learned how military aircraft are dismantled for repairs, how new parts are created (including via 3D printing), and how engineers and scientists work to diagnose problems with the aircraft.
