Mercer University undergraduate and graduate interns are working with MERC engineers to support the United States Navy helicopter fleet.
The interns are using 3-D models, real damage records, and a retired H-60 helicopter to provide Naval Air Systems Command with a digital map of all historical damage. As well as learning hands-on engineering skills, these students are directly helping the Navy ensure the safety and reliability of their helicopters!
Erin Parker and Emily Schmidt take advantage of the Navy-provided H-60 airframe to ensure that historical damage reports are located correctly. The result will be a full helicopter 3-D model seeded with all the damage history.
Looking at a computer model does not give the same frame of reference as spending time inside an actual helicopter cabin. Caleb Cook, Daniel Sellers, and Drew Jackson familiarize themselves with the unique components of a Navy H-60.