Graduate Victoria Flying High

29 October 2010

A MUM who juggled family and work commitments is flying high after completing a university course which saw her design her own aircraft.

Victoria Thomas from Rhyl graduated from Glyndŵr University on Friday (October 29) with a BEng (Hons) in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering.

Mum-of-two Victoria is hoping to follow her dream of working with aircraft after fitting the course around part-time work as a waitress.

She said: “I was in university three days a week, then working during the evening and one day a week to help with the costs of running our home. I also went to an engineering company in Llandudno one day a week to gain work experience.”

Commuting by train to Wrexham, Victoria also had to contend with family illnesses and the pressures of balancing home life, work and study to complete her course. Her dedication has paid off, and Victoria believes her qualification should stand her in good stead in a highly competitive industry sector which has fascinated her since childhood days spent watching planes take off at Manchester Airport with her dad.

Victoria was the first student to use Glyndŵr University’s new flight simulator to design her own aircraft, and gained national recognition for her work.

he said: “As my individual project I chose to design I jet trainer aircraft which I wanted to compare to the BAe Hawk. The outcome was an aircraft which I called the VCT Dragon, which was entered in the Merlin Simulator Group competition in Coventry, where I came fourth.”

Victoria, who previously graduated from Glyndŵr University with a degree in foundation degree in sound studio technology, said she was proud of her achievements and focused on securing work with companies specialising in the aircraft industry.