Wellingborough School Hosts ACP Roadshow with Hybrid Air Vehicles
The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme delivered its first event at Wellingborough School on 27 April 2026, with engineers from Hybrid Air Vehicles joining the programme to give 80 Year 10 students a direct look at the Airlander airship and the company building it.
The ACP team for the day comprised Chris Marshall, Ogi Damjanovic and Mike Stokes, with Chairman Dr Michael Smith in attendance. Craig Jones and Jacob Pulley represented Hybrid Air Vehicles, contributing to both the morning presentations and the afternoon breakout sessions.
Chris Marshall opened the morning with a session on the technological changes reshaping aerospace, including automation, simulation and the integration of AI-driven systems into engineering workflows. Ogi Damjanovic followed with a presentation on immersive design tools, showing how virtual reality is used in prototyping, modelling and collaborative engineering. Mike Stokes then outlined pilot training pathways and the broader network of operational roles that support modern aircraft operations.
Jacob Pulley followed with an introduction to Hybrid Air Vehicles and the Airlander programme, giving students a clear sense of how a UK-based company is developing a genuinely new category of aircraft, along with the range of engineering, design and operational roles involved in bringing one to market.
To close the morning, Spot, the quadruped robot from Boston Dynamics, made an appearance for an open Q&A session before lunch. Using its integrated voice system, Spot fielded questions directly from students, providing a memorable lead-in to the break and a tangible reference point for the role of robotics and AI in modern engineering.
In the afternoon, students rotated through the breakout sessions. Chris oversaw the FPV drone simulators, giving students practical exposure to flight control and spatial awareness, while Mike led the VR Flight Experience, walking students through cockpit procedures and basic decision-making. Craig and Jacob ran a dedicated Airlander station, helping students visualise the aircraft’s scale, configuration and intended use cases, complementing the morning presentation.
The visit also marked the debut of an expanded version of Ogi’s VR design station. The setup now includes two additional headsets, allowing up to three students to share a virtual room and collaborate within GravitySketch, shifting the format from an individual exercise into a shared design environment.
Engagement remained steady across the day, with student questions ranging from apprenticeship routes to the specifics of lighter-than-air flight.
The ACP would like to thank Philippa Hunt, Head of Careers at Wellingborough School, for coordinating the visit, and Craig Jones and Jacob Pulley of Hybrid Air Vehicles for their contribution to the day.
“The ACP team were all friendly, professional and approachable. The content of the presentations was varied, appropriate and inspiring, and it was great to see them excited and engaged with the breakout tech.”
— Philippa Hunt, Head of Careers, Wellingborough School
