In midwinter 1998 Mr. Harry Stolmeier, a retired Navy pilot, volunteered to set up an after school program for students who had an interest in building and flying model airplanes. Mr. James Forest agreed to sponsor the program and stay after school two days every week to meet with the club. Mr. Stolmeier also donated remote control equipment and brings many of the tools and materials necessary for model building with him each day. This program supports the units we teach in Technology Education class on problem solving, aerodynamics, and the principles of flight. Below Mr. Forest, the club sponsor, fuels an engine for flight.
Students build their planes from kits and then paint the planes.
The 2 cycle internal combustion engines run on a special fuel and are started using a glow plug and battery. Crashes are commom as students learn how to control the plane, but damage is usually limited to broken props which are easily replaced. By tilting a u-shaped handle students control wires that move the plane's elevator. A skilled flyer can make the plane perform loops or figure 8s. In the picture to the right a sixth grade student in the club, Brian P., uses his hand controller to circle his airplane overhead.