"Kid Build Planes", a program for 10 to 16 year old students interested in Aviation.

The Pearson Air Museum, located in the Historic Reserve, Vancouver, Washington, has devolped a 'hands on' educational program for youth to teach the basic skills of "stick and fabric" aircraft construction. The course airplane being constructed is a non-flying "Penguin" ground trainer withan 18 ft wingspan and a length of 13 feet. The program teaches all the classic wooden airplane constructioin techniques including rib construction, wing, tail, and fusalage design and construction, finishing and covering technique, final assembly and control, engine, and propellor systems. The course is a nominal 16 weeks, with five 3 week program modules. The program is designed to accomodate busy schedules, so that students can miss weekly sessions and still complete 3 weeks in each of the program modules. The program was started in January 2003, and to date has had 26 students. On any given Saturday (between 10 and 12 AM), there are between 6 and 14 students, plus 4 or more adults. For more information, or to enroll, call the air museum at: 360/694-7026.

(above)Building the wing ribs (Justin)    (right).Sanding the tail elevator and horizontal stabilizer.

(above) Chase and  Kobuk work on the Fusalage with Dad (Tony)   (right) Courtney fits the butt rib on the aileron.

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