BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 07:40 PM

Actually, Amos, ol' buddy... This plane looks more like a Spitfire with its "wing under" configuration than a wing over Cesna...

I kinda like the way it looks... I think I woulda made it a tail dragger, however...

Nice little kit plane, though...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: Amos
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 06:57 PM

Good story, John, thanks. It looks like a Cessna single-engine fixed wing. I guess given their cost constraints that figures.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 06:54 PM

MaineDog -

The "wings fall off" is, of course, a reference to a recent thread that dropped out of sight a short time back. I figured that might attract more clicks than "Splendid Educational Opportunity."

John

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: MaineDog
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 06:50 PM

This is a wonderful thing. More kids need challenging opportunities like this.
Re: airplanes, the wings do not "fall off" of airplanes, unless they collide with something, or significantly exceed their red-line airspeed, in which case, you better be ready to bail out quickly.
MD

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 06:35 PM

There's plenty of kit planes out there... The Kit Fox is one that my brother and I looked into about 20 years ago... Stall speed of like 35 knots so you really didn't need much space to land or take off...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 03:00 PM

The second link (to the experience aviation site) seems to be hung up at the moment - probably getting a lot of traffic while the reports are new. I'm pretty sure the link is good. The link is also at the first article, and I get the same hang from their version, even though it worked when the article first appeared.

The plane looks like it's probably a "kit-built" and the "experience" site may give more details. I didn't explore the site fully.

[I'm sure the kit makers (if that's what it was) would appreciate being identified. It is a nice looking little plane in the long-range views shown. Perhaps a bit small to try to give all the kids a ride.]

John

Subject: RE: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 02:38 PM

Fantastic story, John. Thanks for sharing.

Mick

Subject: BS: Plane Doesn't Lose A Wing
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 02:31 PM

Airplane Doesn't Lose Wing

[quote]

PILOT'S PROMISE: IF TEENS BUILD IT, HE'LL FLY IT
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2008 9:30 AM

MIAMI – "Here's some metal. Here's some rivets. Construct a plane."

That's how 16-year-old Deshorn King remembers hearing the initial instructions he and 59 other Miami-area teenagers received on Day 1 of their summer vacation. The students applied and were accepted to participate in an aviation program for teens provided by Experience Aviation.

Mission: Build an airplane.

Time allotted: 10 weeks.

Experience required: None.

Of course, all aspects of the plane construction were supervised, but the learning curve was steep.

"Electronics, avionics, basically the whole nine yards within one week," said King.

Novices in the world of aviation were soon talking about rivets, horizontal stabilizers, fuel tanks, engines. They were wearing safety glasses while handling drills, paints and rivet guns. As days turned into weeks, dreams became reality.

Their mentor was 24-year old Barrington Irving, who made history in 2007 by becoming the youngest person ever, as well as the first black pilot, to fly solo around the world in his plane called "Inspiration." He founded Experience Aviation to inspire young people to identify and pursue their dreams, as he has done.

***

A sense of satisfaction was evident on the face of every teenager present.

"It was very fulfilling," said 18-year-old Sakina Simpson. "You can go home and say mom, look what I have done."

[End quote]

After a ten minute first flight, the project was deemed successful. It woud have been nice to see some better pictures of the airplane, especially a close-up image or two; but it looks like a great way for a bunch of kids to spend a summer vacation.

For more information, and a news video, www.experienceaviation.org

John