Kids building planes

[Dave Nyce]

The neighborhood kids have been building Half-A C/L planes in my workshop lately. First, I walked the neighborhood, putting a flyer into each mailbox (115) to announce the plan.
We started out with a flying day, for the kids to fly my planes, with 13 pilots (plus some parents). Then we had several get-togethers in my shop for building. Some of their planes are getting close to being finished. The kids really liked learning to use the drill press, and also used the milling machine to recess two pennies into the outboard wing.

We will fly again next weekend. Nine kids are building planes, plus a few more who go to the flying days. The flying days are also a way for the neighbors to get together. I had a suggestion to have someone cook hotdogs. I plan to try that sometime soon, if I can get a volunteer to cook (since I am too busy working with the planes and pilots.)

We take-off from an 8 foot folding table, with a stooge at one end (from Brodak). That way, we don't need someone to hold the plane for take-off. I place a line between the flying area and the spectator area, so that only pilots and a helper (if needed) are on the flying side.

We're using fuel from Brodak with 25% nitro and 22% oil. 

[Dave Nyce]

Attached announcement flyer and some photos.

[Gaylord D Elling]

Congrats to you Dave. What a great effort to expose these kids to our great sport.Keep up the fantastic work!!!

[John Skukalek]

Wow! What a great thing you are doing.

[Gary Dowler]

Superb!  Well done!  I would like to do something similar, but that will have to wait another 2.5 years until retirement.  I have done a model aviation exhibit once at a local airshow.  Got table space in a hangar, set up displays and models for people to see. Had a lot of people stop and ask questions, was a good time. 

My hat is off to you for doing this!!

Gary

[Steve Dwyer]

Dave,

Back in the day there was an older guy (in his 30s) in the neighborhood that occasionally flew model planes at a nearby field. I recall about 12 kids that came around to see what was happening. I can name 4 that showed enough interest to actually build and fly a plane. Out of the 4, one stayed with it to go on building more models (Me). That was a 25% capture rate, not bad by any means. Everyone benefited from the experience especially the "old guy".

Steve

[Dave Nyce]

Steve: Now I'm the old guy (but way, way older). As a child in the 1960s, I had to learn on my own. Then formed a club, and had about 10 other kids join. I kept up with the hobby, going to R/C, then back to control line. I started teaching kids about airplanes, rockets, etc. since around 1992, in local schools. From 2005 through 2021, I was teaching about 30 to 35 kids at a foster care center. But since moving too far from there, I have started again, but teaching the local kids. Plan to start with local schools again in the fall.

All of the neighborhood kids who came to the first flying day last month said they want to build their own planes, and most have started building. We'll see how it goes over time.

Maybe it's a little more exciting for them because we build in my workshop, and they get to use lots of tools and some machines.

[Steve Dwyer]

A commendable effort on your part for sure. These kids will never forget this experience you are providing regardless if they stay building.

Steve