I'm a 7th grade math and science teacher at a charter school. The school really encourages clubs and an inquiry approach to teaching. I'm thinking of starting an aviation/aerospace club. I have some ideas of things to do such rockets, remote control gliders and airplanes, models, flight sim, principals of flight, history, aviation in wars, etc.

Do you have any ideas? I think this could be an amazing opportunity to further our youngster interest in flight.

I'll probably be meeting 2 times a month.

You may want to consider contacting the nearest chapter of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) to see if they offer "Young Eagles" flights. In case you're not familiar with that, the local EAA chapter sets up a date with a local school and offers free airplane rides to school children, typically on a Saturday morning. It's a great way to introduce kids to flying. Check out the website http://www.youngeagles.org/

Great website. Found tons of activities. Closest chapter is at F70 hopefully they offer the program because that would be amazing.

when i was in middle school there was a class about the basic principles of flight, that was explored by making lots of different paper airplanes with challenges for each flight. pretty cool with different designs for distance, time, turns, height, etc.

Is anyone a member of EAA? Is or has been a Young Eagles pilot?

As the president of the local model club, I was involved in a few of these classes with the local Jr. High. We would go in and talk to the kids and do RC flight demonstrations at the school. We set up several training sessions for the kids to fly our clubs trainers. The kids loved it and it got a few of them to stick with the hobby and even a couple that I know of to get into GA.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

That should get you the search page for local model clubs. I would think that any of the clubs would be very happy to help you out.

The AMA also has a school program where they sell very cheap (I think it was around a buck apiece) stick and tissue models that the class puts together then you can have a "fly off" and see who can learn to trim the plane for best glide etc. The transition from RC planes to GA is a natural progression for alot of people! I know it is what led me into GA as well as my brother and about a dozen other guys my age from the local model club.

In 7th grade I started an aviation club at the school. There were about seven members, sometimes more, sometimes less, with a student body of around 70. We took tours of the facilities (tower, FSS, engine repair stations, etc). We got free Discovery rides sponsored by the local FBO. Our biggest efforts were to build RC gliders and planes (gliders were much more affordable with old 2-channel radios for some members- they could be flying for less than $60 with all the gear in the 80's. Saving lunch money for a couple months). Later, a couple members from wealthier families were able to take sailplane lessons. They had zero interest before the aviation club came along.

In 9th and 10th grade, we had saved enough from mowing lawns and stuff to get $10 off per hour to buy a 50 hour block of flight training, which got three of us through solo and beyond (back when a 150 was 34/hr and the CFI was 15/hr). This included a person who could contribute almost nothing to the pool due to family situation issues. I was the only one interested in the EAA stuff, helping glass a LongEze and rebuild a Cub, and finally re-cover my -22 I had purchased at 16 for $4200.

All these things took very little aside from holding meetings, making phone calls to get tours (never got turned down, not even once- they were always wanting to give us a tour), and having space to build/fly RC's. Other groups I've heard of also were successful in buying home ground school courses (King, etc) and having regular meetings to work towards the written. The lawn mowing money wouldn't pay to get in the door these days, unfortunately, so something more inventive would have to be worked out for that. But the RC price point really has not skyrocketed in 30 years, with Craigslist for buying radios for around $50-$80 and good glider kits for less than $80. And tours usually are a lot of fun. Very little mentoring was present- mostly self- organizing, with a marquee teacher doing us a favor so we could be an official club. All this in fairly small or moderate size schools.

The final thing was getting into hang gliding. Nowadays it would be paragliding- I was the youngest hang glider pilot for several states' radius, and it hasn't gotten any better demographically (hang gliding events are practically high adrenaline Geritol ads these days). The demographics and cost are simply too great. On the other hand, when I paraglided, 12-16 year olds zoomed past me at cloud base in pillowcase- sized canopies with complete competence. The cost to entry there is around $1k for a basic canopy, harness, and other equipment, plus a few hundred in instruction. Even a couple days' instruction using the instructors' equipment would be a great experience for a kid these days as GA has gotten so far out of reach. Most parents would object, however.

There is also the CAP. As much of a nut as I was about flying, and as a guy working towards an AFA appointment, it still wasn't for me.

The groups I was a part of produced two AFA appointments, an A&P, an airline pilot, and a few engineering degrees. Not too shabby.

Lot of great ideas... It really sucks the price of aviation is so high that its tough for youngster to get involved. I was thinking of the model airplane thing. I have the remotes and engines as this is what really got me going into aviation in Jr high. We also have a pretty big local club that I'll look into. I also like the idea of maybe visiting different facilities.

I am an EAA member but I was never a young eagle because i didn't feel the need when i was already growing up around aviation. I do plan on flying young eagles, though i am waiting until i turn 18 for liability reasons, though i haven't found any regs on the eaa website about the pilot's age as long as they're licensed. There really should be more youth aviation programs, but the obvious challenge is cost. In my area the Antique Aircraft Association (of CO) has many kids involved in rebuilding a taylorcraft.

I'm thinking I should join the organization and provide the young eagle flights myself.

Does CAP do anything like this without having them join?

The CAP did not offer rides when I was in school. And they were always stringing along cadets with promises of getting a ride in the local CAP 182, but it never *ever* happened unless the cadet's parents knew someone who knew someone in the CAP leadership (some of the cadets' parents were in the CAP). Another guy in our group that also got an AFA appointment was active with them for two years and never got to fly with them. He considered it a complete write-off to his AF aviation career.

Young Eagles is fine- and a lot of fun. But it's mainly *just* a ride. The costs drove me to hang gliding, glider towing, and paragliding for a number of years through college and well beyond. They were extremely rewarding years, but it's not for everyone. The view from 17,999.5' over Mount Sneffels on a hang glider is not as accessible, or attractive, as an evening flight around the pattern at the local airport for most.

RC was easily the biggest energizer for me and a lot of the others in Jr. High, and really got people to become involved in aero science. That and the ground school stuff. We'd sit around studying the exam guides to prep for the written test. I have heard of other clubs buying ground school kits as well.

Titus577 wrote:Is anyone a member of EAA? Is or has been a Young Eagles pilot?

I have been an EAA member for about 15 years. I am also the Young Eagles coordinator for our chapter 608 in Scottsbluff NE. I have flown over 100 Young Eagles myself, our chapter has flown over 2000. Usually fly kids at about three events per year in western Nebraska. If you are interested please PM me.
HC