October 12, 2016

Special Landing at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter on ’86 Field

Sikorsky Helicopter Is Part of the School of Engineering Fifth Annual National Manufacturing Day Program

Troy, N.Y. – This year, as part of the National Manufacturing Day program hosted by the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, members of the campus, area students, and the local community will have an opportunity to view the arrival of the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on Friday, Oct. 14. Prior to the start of the program, the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter (weather permitting) will make its debut on the Rensselaer campus with a 7:15 a.m. landing on ’86 Field in the center of the Rensselaer campus.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Sikorsky is known as a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of military and commercial helicopters; fixed-wing aircraft; spare parts and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft; and civil helicopter operations. According to the corporation, the UH-60M helicopter brings together more than 30 years of technological advancement, improved performance, and real-world experience.

The helicopter will be on display for public viewing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, a Snap-On Advanced Technology Lab Truck and New York State National Guard tent will be set up at the east end of the ’86 Field for attendees to learn about new technology being used in the field, and to connect with organization representatives.

“I am truly proud to be part of a team to showcase the manufacturing programs here at RPI in support of National Manufacturing Day,” said Sam Chiappone, director of manufacturing innovation for the School of Engineering. “The opportunity to have our Rensselaer students and sponsors share their experiences with local high school students is the perfect way to make our guests aware of the career and educational opportunities available in manufacturing. This national event is a great way to inspire the next generation of leaders in manufacturing and we are pleased to once again be part of the effort.”

Nearly 300 high school students from around New York’s Capital Region will visit the Rensselaer campus to attend the National Manufacturing Day program. This marks the fifth year that Rensselaer has participated in the event, which aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in technology and advanced manufacturing. The opening program will be held on the Rensselaer campus in the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) Theater, beginning at 9 a.m.

National Manufacturing Day officially occurs on the first Friday in October; however, companies and organizations are encouraged to plan events on a date that works best for them and their community any day of the year. As a result, all across the country, organizations have worked to show the public what manufacturing really looks like through more than 2,600 open houses and events in each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico, with an estimated 400,000 students, parents, and community members expected to attend.

The Rensselaer School of Engineering planned the university’s National Manufacturing Day events, with support from Sikorsky Aircraft, Snap-On, the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), and Chief Executives Network for Manufacturing of the Capital Region (CEN), New York State National Guard, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, as well as the Rensselaer MILL and the CATS.

While at Rensselaer, students immersed in advanced manufacturing education also will experience facets of The New Polytechnic, an emerging paradigm for teaching, learning, and research at Rensselaer. The foundation for this vision is the recognition that global challenges and opportunities are so great they cannot be adequately addressed by even the most talented person working alone. Rensselaer serves as a crossroads for collaboration—working with partners across disciplines, sectors, and geographic regions—to address complex global challenges, using the most advanced tools and technologies, many of which are developed at Rensselaer. Research at Rensselaer addresses some of the world’s most pressing technological challenges—from energy security and sustainable development to biotechnology and human health. The New Polytechnic is transformative in the global impact of research, in its innovative pedagogy, and in the lives of students at Rensselaer.

Stories About Advanced Manufacturing at Rensselaer

School of Engineering To Host Fifth Annual National Manufacturing Day (REMINDER LINK)

Advanced Manufacturing: Educating the Next Generation of Engineers http://bit.ly/2cFtz77

President Obama Announces Winner of New Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute and New Manufacturing Hub Competitions http://bit.ly/28N7V0v

Boosting American Competitiveness in Advanced Manufacturing: Creating Future Leaders http://bit.ly/1OjizdA

Rensselaer alumni magazine: Fall 2014 -The President’s View: “Manufacturing Leadership”

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/rpi/2014fall/index.php#/6

Rensselaer alumni magazine story: “Mastering Manufacturing in the MILL”

Note: Join the social media conversation. Follow the activity and share your photos and experience through Twitter using the hashtag #RPI and #MFGDay16 or through one of these social media outlets @RPInews and @RPIEng.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is America’s first technological research university. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in engineering; the sciences; information technology and web sciences; architecture; management; and the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Rensselaer faculty advance research in a wide range of fields, with an emphasis on biotechnology, nanotechnology, computational science and engineering, data science, and the media arts and technology. The Institute has an established record of success in the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace, fulfilling its founding mission of applying science “to the common purposes of life.” For more information, please visit http://www.rpi.edu.