Update 1
December 1997
What a project! Kids are excited, mentors are impressed, aluminum is becoming airplane parts, and ripples are spreading out into the community. This is the first update of the CKJH (Central Kitsap Jr. High) STOL CH-701 Project Schoolflight. We hope to let you know what is going on, our progress to date and projections for the future.
First the construction: Out of 25 students signed
up, each building session has seen an average of 18 - 20 in attendance. Every night as the
mentors are leaving someone invariably says, "Boy, these kids turn out some
parts!" And they do: we've had 13 building sessions so far and have over 50 completed
parts. More exciting is the construction of the wing spars. They are the first parts that
we will assemble and when we rivet on the wing ribs, it will begin to look like an
airplane!
On Thursday, Oct 30th, the spar team drilled the first holes for the spar rivets. One spar is drilled and the other won't be far behind. The next step will be to deburr all pieces, then rivet the spar web and caps together. With the addition of ribs, like those in the photo below, wing construction of main wing ribs will be well underway. Anyone that wants to share in this project is welcome to stop by the Aircraft Construction Facility in Central Kitsap Jr. High School during construction hours; 2:00 - 4:00 pm Tuesdays and 6:30 - 8:30pm Thursdays. You don't have to be an aircraft mechanic to help.
What's next?
In construction, work on the wings continues. We're
improving the rib forming blocks and riveting should begin soon. In the Art department,
Mr. Noy's classes will design proposed paint schemes on side and top view of the CH-701.
Racing stripes? Classic? Day-Glo? The best of the designs will be posted for comment.
In the Computer department of Olympic High School, Mr. Adamson has offered to render the plans on the computer. Two Boeing-bound students, using Computer Assisted Design (CAD) will 'construct' the CH-701 in the computer, allowing the builders to more clearly see the interrelation of parts. As well, we will be able to take proposed paint schemes, scan them in, and apply them to the plane right in the computer!
Come in and visit! Visit the Aircraft Construction Facility located in the shop at the rear of Central Kitsap Jr. High School. The operating hours are 2 pm - 4 pm on Tuesdays and 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm on Thursdays. Sign in at the front office and come on back.
Young Eagles. The Experimental Aircraft Association has a program to give one million airplane rides to youth by the year 2003. At last count they were over 350,000. The local EAA chapter supports this program and is ready to fly the builders of our CH-701. Any builder who would like to see Kitsap County from the air in a light plane should have their parents contact Clark Coulter at 769-0267. Clark is the Young Eagles Coordinator and will put the student in touch with one of the chapter pilots who has volunteered to fly. Can you see orcas from the air?