Johnny Ellis delights in handing visitors a genuine space shuttle heat shield tile to hold. He says it’s a big draw for crowds who don’t get exposed to exotic hardware like that. Johnny says students at AirVenture are eager to learn what background they need in order to work for NASA ... because everyone wants a job like the NASA craftsmen have. Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen

"Where can I get a job like you guys?" That’s the refrain NASA’s Larry Cooper, Glenn Brehm, and Johnny Ellis hear constantly in the craftsmen display at the NASA building at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The trio, from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, hosts a curiosity shop filled with interesting models, prototypes, a working wind tunnel and assorted space shuttle heat shielding materials.

Another example is a remarkable electric remotely piloted airplane. Its tilting wing spans about two feet and it can carry a special hybrid infrared and video camera. Glenn says the small plane could one day have applications in local protection and law enforcement, with several on hand in a fire or police department to respond quickly to 911 calls for everything from lost children to people trapped in buildings.

Visitor Joann Wright from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is an electrical engineer who was drawn to the craftsman display. She said she was surprised at how light the shuttle tile is. She gained a new appreciation after talking with the craftsmen about the patience required to see worthwhile projects bear fruit. Once NASA pioneers an idea, it generally remains for industry to put it to use for public good.

One example Glenn likes to show visitors is an experimental zinc/air battery. Weighing only one pound, it can produce 8 amps of power for one hour—a remarkable feat. He says a commercial venture may work with NASA to commercialize this mighty power source.