Airplanes are much more than just a hobby for George Inger, a professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics who, after this summer, will have spent two summers at a NASA research center with some of the top minds in the country.

Out of 121 applicants, Inger was one of 42 chosen to participate in a program at the Langley Research Center in Langley, Va.

During the 10 weeks, the participants conducted research and attended technical lectures.

“If you keep your ears open, you can learn quite a bit,” Inger said. “It is tremendous teaching, tremendous, relevant teaching.”

When the 10 weeks are up, the participants are required to present oral and written reports of their research experience.

Inger’s research involved trying to make the entry heating better for the next generation space shuttle.

The airplane on which Inger worked for his project was an experimental airplane. Inger said, “It is used to study whether or not all the new things will work.”

Inger won the best research presentation award, and as a result, will be invited back to Langley during the academic year to work with his NASA associate.

His NASA associate, a member of the NASA staff, is still in touch with him and is still working on the research the two of them began last summer.

Inger said he is looking forward to going back next summer and encourages others to apply for the NASA program or other similar programs.

The Navy has programs similar to the NASA program with laboratories all over the country.

“I would recommend this type of thing to all people, especially young people, but not limited to young people,” he said.

Speaking from experience, Inger is the program’s biggest advocate. “It’s an opportunity to work on a great thing with some really super people,” he said.