Palmdale High School’s Solar Falcon Race Team is a unique program through the Engineering Academy, which was created in 2014 to teach students how to design, manufacture, and race a solar-powered and electric powered vehicle. Each student will be taught a variety of different skills that will be necessary for the design, testing and construction of the solar car. Some of the skills that are taught in this program include: The Design Process, CAD Drafting Electrical Systems and Welding. Once each student has acquired basic knowledge of each skill they will then choose to be in a particular “company” which will focus primarily to one skill.
Companies are implemented into the program to teach the students more into depth about a specific aspect of the design of the solar-powered vehicle. This allows the student to become more advanced in the skill they have chosen, which will benefit the team of the Solar Falcon Race Team during the development of the solar-powered vehicle.
After months of development, the vehicle will then be transported to the Solar Car Challenge which will test its efficiency and endurance. Any student with a drivers license may operate the vehicle during the competition after passing a scrutineer test. The race was held for six days, which took place in Fort Worth Texas. The 2015-2016 race was a cross country event from Fort Worth Texas to Minneapolis, MN.
“There’s no better feeling than to go out, and race something that you, and your team have built.” – Dr. Lehman Marks, Foundation President and Race Director, Solar Car Challenge
Team Advisors
- Mr. Matthew Henzie – Advisor
- Mr. Pedro del Valle – Advisor
Our Mission
The mission of the Solar Falcon Race Team is to increase students’ awareness and engaging in STEM fields; instill leadership qualities needed to work on a successful, productive team by developing, designing, and finishing a physical product; and expand students’ resources for post-high school experiences by allowing students to develop and run companies based off of a professional business model.
