This is our latest news as of September, 2002
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We start our sixth year!

In what has become an annual tradition, our builders take as much of our current project outside as possible and put it in the relative position that it will occupy when the aircraft is complete.  Here, in June of 2002, our 601 is beginning to take shape.  We have a canoe-stage fuselage, a rudder, flaps, spars, ribs, one aileron, and a set of pedals and controls.  The builders of the fifth year now turn the project over to the builders of the sixth year to complete and cover the wings, finish the fuselage, build the gear, and construct a horizontal stab and elevator.  
   Our fifth year was wonderful.  Besides working on the 701, really starting the 601, teaching students many basic and advanced skills, and just having a good time in the process, we went nation-wide!  At our annual kick off meetings Mr. Steed always tells the students, "You're going to be famous!"  It does not always seem as though they believe him.  This year, however, he may have been right.  In November a film crew from CNN came to Central Kitsap Junior High and shot two hours worth of film. From that two hours they produced a 90 second spot that they ran on CNN Headline News on December 14, 2001.  We received calls from all over the country from people saying they had seen the spot and wishing us well.  Not everyone that had been filmed was on the air but even those whose shot at stardom ended up on the editing room floor shared in the excitement.  

Our next shot at widespread publicity came from Sport Aviation, the magazine of the Experimental Aircraft Association. In December, Kerry Fores contacted Mr. Smith and Mr. Steed about writing an article for the magazine.  During the spring they communicated by phone and email, and transmitted photos back and forth.  The article should be published in the September issue of Sport Aviation and reach 150,000 members of the EAA.  We hope this publicity will accomplish two things, first, we would really like to communicate with other school districts that are considering a program like ours.  While ours may not be the only way to teach skills, build airplanes, and have fun, we feel that we can offer advice on many aspects of starting such a program.  The second thing we hope to do is find a donor of an engine that we can install in our 701.  With such a donation we can get the 701 in the air and to airshows, create publicity, and perhaps convince other schools that a program like ours would be a worthwhile venture.  

     If you would like to contact us please email Mr. Smith or  Mr. Steed   We would really like to hear from you.

If you would like information on how to start a program like this at your school, visit our  how to page.
Webmaster: George Steed 

Last Updated: 07/11/05 
 

      

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