A handover event at Woolpert’s facilities located within the Grand Central Airport complex marked the formal donation of a static Partenavia P.68 airframe to Girls Fly Africa. The asset will be integrated into the Girls Fly Africa’s Aerospace Village initiative as a fixed training platform, enabling structured, hands-on engagement with aircraft systems and the broader aerospace environment, while expanding practical exposure to STEM-related learning.
While the airframe requires refurbishment, this forms a central part of the project’s value. Rather than serving solely as a static display, it will be used as a restoration platform, with young participants involved in the process. In this context, it becomes a practical teaching tool, introducing participants to aircraft structures, systems and the broader aviation environment.
Chris Tanner, Market Director at Woolpert, said the handover formed part of the company’s broader investment in Africa, its people and long-term development. He referred to Woolpert’s growth on the continent and its focus on technical training, career development, and local capability.
Refilwe Ledwaba, Founder and Director of Girls Fly Africa, said the organisation aims to encourage greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while helping young people develop practical skills. She said the Youth Aerospace Village concept was created to give young people access to aircraft, simulators, equipment, and aerospace-related tools from an early stage.
Ledwaba said early exposure is important, particularly for young people with limited access to aviation and technical environments. She said familiarity with aircraft and technical spaces can help reduce some of the barriers that make later training more difficult. In that context, the donated airframe will provide a practical point of reference before more formal training.
To find out more about Girls Fly Africa’s #AerospaceVillageProject go here: https://girlsflyafrica.org/
About Girls Fly Africa
Girls Fly Africa is a non-profit and public benefit organisation established in 2017 to promote the sustainable economic empowerment, leadership, and personal development of youth, girls and women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields focusing on the aviation and aerospace industries. The organisation focuses on raising awareness, providing mentorship, facilitating skills development, and building networks to empower the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals in Africa.
