The curator of the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum, Ysterplaat, Lt. Col. James du Toit, recently visited the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. The purpose of the visit was to identify possible opportunities for technical collaboration between the department and the museum. Topics in aerospace engineering are close to the heart of any engineer and the chance to invest in the technical content of exhibitions at the museum could not be missed.
The SAAF Museum at Ysterplaat is one of the hidden gems of Cape Town. Besides being a prominent tourist attraction, it also plays a vital role in incubating and fostering an interest in engineering amongst the city’s youth. In the next couple of years, the department will be promoting involvement in the museum, either through direct research, or through volunteer opportunities, amongst its senior students. This is just one of the many ways in which we, as a department, can assist the society that we are a part of.
