Xu Jianping guides students to learn aircraft model knowledge. Photo taken by our reporter Zhou Huan
Members of the aircraft model team competed in a drone football match on the playground. Photo by Li Guidong (People's Vision)
In the early morning, on the playground of Chishan Town Central Primary School, Shangli County, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province, a unique drone football match was going on. The six members of Wang Fangqiu's model aircraft team skillfully operated the remote control. The drone wrapped in a football-shaped shell moved quickly in the air, attacking, defending, dodging, shooting... the "football" shuttled and danced, and the team members looked attentive.
In 2022, the school established the Wang Fangqiu Model Aircraft Team to commemorate Wang Fangqiu, the "good Chinese man" who has been teaching locally for more than ten years. "Teacher Wang built an aerospace science and technology room in the school during his lifetime, organized an intelligent drone team and a computer programming team, and sowed the seeds of model aircraft technology in the hearts of children," said Chen Aiming, principal of Chishan Town Central Primary School.
"We started by teaching how to make paper airplanes, then rubber band airplanes, foam airplanes, and then advanced to drone football, etc., so that children can gradually master the skills of making complex aircraft and feel the charm of aviation sports." A teacher at the school Xu Jianping said. He is one of the three instructors of the aircraft model team. Currently, there are more than 60 members in the team. They train once a week. Students at school can join as long as they are interested. Everyone is very energetic in training, and even on holidays, they often get together to compete.
"Some production materials are relatively expensive, so we spend carefully. For the spare parts of the drone, we make what we can and repair what we can. For the electronic components that must be purchased, we shop around and buy the ones with the highest cost performance." Xu Jianping introduced , Jiangxi Provincial Aviation Sports Management Center and other units also donated aircraft model equipment and sportswear to the school, and sent professional coaches to guide student training.
Sixth-year student Li Xinran has been in the team for more than a year and has a strong interest in aviation sports. "We usually train hard together and cooperate during competitions. We have won several championships." Li Xinran said, "In the future, I want to develop more intelligent drones and explore the unknown world."
"The school organizes events every year The model aircraft team went out to compete, and the children continued to improve their skills," Xu Jianping said, "If they win, everyone accumulates confidence and sums up experience; if they lose, everyone sits down and practices together through the competition, and the children have mastered the knowledge. It has also grown.”
At the 2024 National Aviation Model Open (Jiangxi Gongqingcheng Station) held in June this year, Wang Fangqiu’s aircraft model team won the championship and runner-up in the multi-axis drone football competition; in this year’s and last year’s At the Jiangxi Provincial Aerospace Model Championships, the model aircraft team won the drone football championship and runner-up for two consecutive years...
"Through continuous learning and training, the children not only mastered the knowledge and skills of aviation sports, but also their scientific literacy, teamwork Awareness and innovation capabilities have also been improved. Next, we will apply for a municipal model aircraft sports school and prepare an aircraft model sports club to light up the 'aviation dream' of more rural children."
"People's Daily" (September 2, 2024, Page 14)
