Aerospace engineering graduate student earns national recognition from Aviation Week

Noah Parsons working on a large device in a flight facility

West Virginia University has earned national recognition through the work of Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ graduate student Noah C. Parsons, whose advanced aerospace engineering research has garnered international attention.

Story by Sloane Heagerty
Photos by Megan Rinker

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Parsons was named to Aviation Week Network’s 20 Twenties Class of 2026, an honor recognizing 20 emerging leaders worldwide who are shaping the future of aviation and aerospace. Nominees are evaluated on academic achievement, community involvement, personal perseverance, and the impact of their research or design work.

Parsons was selected for his research examining how aircrafts move and rotate when they are inherently unstable in flight. His work analyzes how changes in mass and mass distribution affect how objects tumble through the air, with implications for aerospace defense applications.

“We know what it needs to look like at the larger scale,” Parsons said. “We're trying to produce results at a smaller scale that we can measure using optical and infrared motion capture systems.” 

Parsons’ path to recognition began during his undergraduate studies at WVU, where he sought out research opportunities early. Through the university’s aerospace engineering program, he gained experience in experimental testing, applied problem-solving and faculty mentorship, allowing him to develop long-term research skills.

“I expected it to be very much like I’m just a number in a crowd to my professors, and it’s not at all,” Parsons said. “I got to know all my professors really well. I love that about WVU.”

As an undergraduate, Parsons was heavily involved in student organizations focused on applied learning. He participated in Design, Build, Fly and served as its first treasurer. The experience provided hands-on learning and reinforced classroom concepts through real-world aircraft design and testing.

His involvement also extended beyond the classroom. Parsons partnered with a local coffee shop near his hometown of Donora, Pennsylvania, to teach children about the engineering design process using paper airplanes.

“I had them throw it three times, get a distance for each throw, and then make one change and talk about what they think would make their airplane fly farther,” Parsons said.

The blend of theory, experimentation and community engagement reflects the type of work Parsons now conducts at the graduate level and the experience that prepares Statler College students for careers in the aerospace and defense industries.

Being named to Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties Class of 2026 places Parsons among an elite group of emerging aerospace professionals worldwide. For WVU, the recognition highlights the impact of early access to research, close faculty mentorship and opportunities for students to apply their learning.

Explore the WVU aerospace engineering program and the exciting opportunities available to students.

---