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Earlier this summer, members of the Everett, WA, ZeroAvia team volunteered their time on a Saturday to welcome the local Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club (RTH) to our facility. With the goal of inspiring the next generation of aviators, a group of 45 students interested in pursuing a career in aviation, took part in a tour of our new Propulsion Center of Excellence manufacturing facility.
The Red-Tailed Hawks have a strong and unique connection to aviation, which made them an ideal organization for our team to engage with. Their mission:
“To introduce underserved and underrepresented youths to the world of aviation, engage their minds in practical applications of STEM, ground them in history, inspire them towards aerospace related career paths and help them learn to fly.”
They are part of the Black Pilots of America (BPA), Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1997. The club’s name is primarily derived from the Red Tail Tuskegee Airmen (a group of Black U.S. military pilots who fought in World War II) and the Seattle Seahawks football team.
To start the day, our young visitors were introduced to our hydrogen-electric propulsion technology. They learned about the different components of a hydrogen-electric powertrain and were invited to ask questions and engage with the hardware.
The group then went on a tour of the electronics lab, hardware assembly area and integrated propulsion lab.
The event ended with an open panel discussion featuring ZeroAvia engineers and managers who shared their personal career journeys and offered advice to aspiring aviators. Students were encouraged to ask the panel questions, creating an open and meaningful two-way conversation between the young participants and the adults already in the field. A conversation we hope has inspired the group to pursue their passions in the aerospace industry.
“My favorite part of the day was seeing how engaged both the students and volunteers were! The students were very knowledgeable about other sustainable approaches to aviation and were excited to learn more about our fuel cell technology, electric engines and inverters. I enjoyed seeing my colleagues in their element, teaching students about their corresponding areas of expertise and role. It became obvious to me how passionate the volunteers are about sustainability, aviation and showing up for their community.”
Thanks to our volunteering colleagues Evie Prete, Michaela Goldammer, Sania Afreen, Pongpak Techagumthorn, Mikhail Baker, Kory Kautz and Philip Griffin for volunteering to share your time and knowledge on the day. Special thanks for Stan Swensen for connecting us with RTH and recruiting the volunteers.
This event, done in collaboration with the Red–Tailed Hawks Flying Club, exemplifies a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and education that is essential to shape the future of aviation to meet its full potential. By empowering younger generations today, and showing them the art of the possible, it paves a path forward for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.
