Ryan enjoys a variety of challenges and pursuits, including competitive swimming, tae kwon do, rollerblading, and playing the trumpet. He would like to pursue a career in the sciences.
Ryan says his science teacher has been a "great influence and motivator" to him.
This year marks the 100-year anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight. The Wrights conducted much of their research in Dayton, Ohio, a town neighboring Ryan's. Inspired by the Wrights' legacy, Ryan decided to build a wind tunnel in an effort to determine if greater angles of attack cause lift to increase.
Ryan built a wind tunnel with a design similar to that of the Wright brothers. His airfoil had a traditional high-lift wing shape. Ryan tested his airfoil at airspeeds ranging from 13 to 21 miles per hours and at 0-degree, 10-degree, 20-degree, and 30-degree angles of attack. He proved that lift does increase as the angle of attack escalates.
