Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology is a college within Saint Louis University.

History

Parks Air College was founded by Oliver Parks in 1927. Parks was American's first federally certified school of aviation, holding the FAA Air Agency Certificate no. 1.

Parks College was once a division of the Detroit Aircraft Corporation.^[1] The college students manufactured their own biplane aircraft, the Parks P2A, which became the "hero" of books by author Richard Bach.^[2][3] The college quickly got out of the manufacturing business, selling the P2A rights to Ryan as the Ryan Speedster, and later the Hammond 100.

In the 1930s those enrolled as aeronautical engineers, had to design, construct and test fly their own aircraft. By 1936 the enrollment reached 200 students, with a training fleet that consisted of 13 aircraft including the Kinner Sportster, and Lambert Monocoach twin.^[4]

In 1938 Oliver Parks, (representing Parks Air College,) Curtis-Wright Technical Institute, and Boeing School of Aeronautics were requested by Gen Arnold to establish, at their own risk, a Civilian Pilot Training Program including barracks and aircraft to provide basic training for thousands of pilots.^[5] As enrollment swelled, Parks further expanded his facilities to include operations at Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi. Parks College trained thousands of aviators and aircraft mechanics during World War II. By the end of the war, more than 37,000 cadets (more than 10% of the Air Corps) had received their primary flight instruction at a Parks institution. A variety of training aircraft were used including the locally built PT-15 trainers.^[6] External link to Civilian Pilot Training Program

In 1944 Parks started a training curriculum to train female pilots. The students flew in ERCO Ercoupes with two-control flight systems.^[7]

Having concluded that future aviation leaders would need a broader, more academic education, Parks donated the college to Saint Louis University in 1946, remembering the Jesuit help he received after a 1928 air crash.^[8]

Parks College operated a student run airline flying Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bombers.^[9]

Wernher von Braun donated a V-2 rocket engine from the White Sands Missile Range to the college after a visit in the 1950s.

In 1996 Saint Louis University closed the historic Cahokia, Illinois campus and later sold it to the village. Classes are now held in the new McDonnell-Douglas Hall building on the Frost Campus in mid-town St Louis. Flight training remained at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The move to the Frost campus allowed the curriculum to be expanded and Masters programs to be added. The college also provides the science classes for the main campus.

Now known as Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology, it is a modern, growing, active part of the university.

Departments

• Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
• Aviation Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Interdisciplinary Engineering

Undergraduate programs

Bachelor of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (dual degree)
• Aviation Management
• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering—Bioelectronics (engineering or pre-med emphasis)
• Engineering Physics
• Flight Science/Professional Piloting
• Interdisciplinary Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Physics

Graduate programs

• Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biomedical Engineering

Alumni

• Francis Gabreski - WWII Ace that received primary training at Parks.
• Harrison Thyng - Multiple WWII and Korean War Ace.^[10]
• Gene Kranz - NASA Mission Commander.^[11]
• Gerald P. Carr - NASA Skylab 4 Commander.^[12]

References