Aero-Linx!

Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet.

The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.

Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.

Aero-Linx: Team America Rocketry Challenge

TARC is about inspiring the next generation of young people to choose a career in aerospace. The generation that won the Space Race is retiring from America's aerospace industry, creating lots of great jobs on exciting programs. TARC is a steppingstone to the stars.  Team America Rocketry Challenge 2008 is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry, with co-sponsorship by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Defense Department, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and 34 AIA member companies. The event was originally created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight, but AIA decided to hold it again after receiving hundreds of requests from students, teachers and parents. 2008 marks the sixth year of the Team America Rocketry Challenge. A pool of over $60,000 in scholarships and prizes is shared by the top 10 placing teams. Raytheon, an AIA member company, is also sponsoring additional prizes such as a trip to an international air show for the winning team.

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org/tarc/index.cfm