First Post, Trying to find high school teachers who have a build an airplane class

I apologize but I just spent last half hour/hour trying to find answer and have finally given up.

I want to teach math and science STEM while students build an airplane. I thought this was doable--but not so sure.

Need ideas, steps, advice to begin. I teach at an adult high school attached to a technical center with welding, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, auto building, etc. Have permission to put this together, told if I get money, I will get a space. Have not built an airplane, do not have pilot's license. Am certified in the state of FL to teach Physics, Chemistry, Math 6-12, Biology, Health, Earth/Space, Technology Education, Health, and Art. Putting together a glog to pool my thoughts and progress. Please advise--do I take a class? Have you done this? Member of EAA, AIAA, CAP--will check their sites also. http://tehescmarts.edu.glogster.com/build-an-airplane/ I am in Pensacola and there is an aviation academy at a local high school but they do not build an airplane. I think this is an exciting and motivating idea.

Joined local EAA and they are the best. One member suggested I get in contact with "national".

Thank you for any help. If this is the wrong place to post this--please point me to the right place.

Davene Meehan
http://tehescmarts.edu.glogster.com/glogs/

A number of years ago, Ben Millspaugh started a program at Littleton, Colorado High School where the students built a Fisher FP 404. The airplane was displayed at OSH in in 1990 and 1991. I believe his program was copied and used at other high schools as well. Perhaps he is still around and you can get in touch with him for guidance. Good luck, I'll check out your site.

I can't remember his name, but there was the teacher in Mundelein, IL whose classes built a plane that, IIRC, went around the world. I believe the plane's on display at the museum in Oshkosh.

ETA: Google is your friend:

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/shop-class.html

You may also want to look at this page

http://education.sonexaircraft.com/

I do not know about Adult Ed classes but if you contact Videobob over at Vans Airforce he has experience with high schoolers building RV12's...I think he is on build number three...He is also in Indiana, just SE of Indianapolis...

Regards

Thank you martymayes, Bob Meder, Sonex1517, and rickatic. I appreciate that you took this time to help. I will follow all advice. Google is good. :)

Most sincerely, Davene

I would start with the build a plane foundation. They are geared towards helping set up programs doing exactly what you want to do. http://www.buildaplane.org/ I would suggest reading their FAQ page and going from there. Abandoned projects are easy to come by. Our EAA chapter has donated a project to a Middle School through Build a Plane and currently have access to another abandoned project that could be had as a tax write off donation.

-CubBuilder

Hello folks! My name is Bret Steffen, and I'm the new Director of Education here at EAA. There are some great ideas here from all of you. I hope to put together more information to have available for anyone looking to do what Davene is doing as time goes by. I am really looking forward to working with everyone to grow participation in aviation! Thanks to all of you for all you are doing to help, and let me know of ideas and issues you think I should be aware of.

The Hopkins MN high school woodworking class built a Volmer amphibian and later an Emeraude - both back in the middle seventies. Old time EAAer Al Schauss was the primary technical resource. As I recall, there came several pilot careers etc for the students out of that program.

I don't have the name, but last year there was a man at Aspen High School who had been a teacher in Albuqurque, N. M schools and they had built a plane or planes and had students get flight instruction. He is now in Aspen, I think. I don't have a correct phone number now, try info for area code 970. He proposed to build a Vans RV-12 here, at Aspen High School.