Club involvement with local schools?

[BrianRickman]

My local club, Charles River Radio Controllers (http://charlesriverrc.org), is getting started with two school projects this month.

One school asked that we help with RC flight instruction after the class builds a plane with help from some of the students' parents.

The other has asked that we help their students design and build free flight rubber power aircraft. I have suggested that the school purchase a bulk pack of AMA Delta Dart kits (< $2 each) and have the students design their own planes using the parts from the kit. I think this is cheaper then purchasing props, rubber motors, and balsa wood seperately.

Last summer we did a "flight day" program for the Civil Air Patrol Cadets, where we invited the students to visit our field for a day. We talked to them about RC planes, demonstrated some high performance electric planes, and then gave each student an oportunity to fly a trainer via a buddy box. Everybody (club members, students, and teacher) had a great time and a few of the students came back to fly with us again on their own.

Are any of you involved in similar projects? Do you have any tips to share on getting club members excited about this kind of thing and/or making the programs run smoothly?

[foamnpacktape]

My daughter's sixth grade class is learning flight theory. Last year my son was in this class, and they got to spend a week at the aerospace museum. They learned about about aircraft, flight, and history, including some lectures by true air force heroes of WWII. I took a week off work and volunteered, well worth the loss of pay.
Unfortunately, space is limited in this program, so only a few classes in the city have a chance to participate.
My daughter's class didn't have the same opportunity, so I spent an afternoon with them. I discussed flight theory, using models to demonstrate the concepts. I passed around materials, and a radio system so they could see how a TX, a RX and servos worked. We then went outside for a flight demo.
They were extremely enthusiastic and grateful. I received an envelop full of thank you notes a few days later.
I couldn't stop smiling for a week. :)
I have been trying to get FMS setup for them but we are having difficulty finding a donated computer with a good video card. I may have to bring my PC down for a couple of days.
We are currently in the process of setting up a buddy box flying session for them. I contacted the local field, and they have been very receptive and generous. I can't wait to see the smiles when they take the controls of a large glow trainer.
When the event is over I will post the results, and any tips I may have. We hope to run it on a Saturday, so it is definitely going to have an impact on members, we hope to get as many as possible to participate and help out.
This has been such a rewarding endeavor for me, I can't stress this enough. It has also given me the opportunity to share my love of the hobby, demonstrate my flying skills, and show off my fleet. :)

[BrianRickman]

This has been such a rewarding endeavor for me, I can't stress this enough. It has also given me the opportunity to share my love of the hobby, demonstrate my flying skills, and show off my fleet. :)

That's really great. CRRC will be doing an RC flight demonstration for a local school next Thursday, helping those same students build Delta Dart kits on Friday and Monday, and helping the students fly the DD kits that they've built on Tuesday. There are five club members helping with this class. I am looking forward to all of it :).

We'll be working with another school in the beginning of June, this time helping the students build and fly foam electric RC planes.

[foamnpacktape]

Looks like you'll be first, Good luck.
I look forward to hearing how it goes.
Best wishes,
Foam.

How did you acquire the Delta Darts? Donated?

[fhhuber506771]

Our club has had the "Talented and Gifted" group from a local school visit for a day of flying RC models. They came for 3 years in a row... and skipped last year. No word if they are comming back this year yet.

We haven't gotten any other requests to help with anything from the schools...

We sponsor one class's newpaper subscription.

***********

We also try to have the Cub Scouts out at the field at least once a year.

We had an open invitation to ANY AN ALL Scout groups to call and arrange for a day at the model field... In the 9 years I have been in this club one Cub "den" has regualrly taken up the offer and one Girl Scout group came once.

***********

The AMA Cub (so often called the Dart that AMA relabeled them in the website, but the Dart is really what is now labeled the AMA Racer...) is available at the AMA webstore
http://www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/dept.aspx?id=A56BB228B51A4B51B4E4CCBC4C1F7BDB

$46 for a box of 40 kits (bundle of sticks... stack of plan and instruction sheets and props+bands droppeed in the bottom of the box... you sort em)

[foamnpacktape]

Do you think a grade six student would be able to build a Dart without too much supervision? I remember building one decades ago, and I am thinking it might be over their heads, no pun intended.

[fhhuber506771]

Since I was building more difficult models by the time I was 9...

There's really no reason for the 6th graders (appx 11 to 12 yr olds) to have a problem with them.

The use of knives at school may not go over well... but you can make sanding sticks to do the cutting with. Glue sandpaper to the thin edge of a popsicle stick. A bit of a pain to do it, but it will work.

The Cub/Dart really needs no skill to build. cut off sticks to length (hopefully getting the "miter" of the cut reasonably close) smear glue on the stick and lay it on the cover/plans. Let dry...

Its hard to build one in a way that it won't fly.

[BrianRickman]

How did you acquire the Delta Darts? Donated?

I ordered a 40 pack of Delta Dart kits from the AMA's website. It cost about $56 including shipping. The school is going to reimburse me. At $1.35 per kit, these kits are cheaper then the props I use on most of my RC planes :).

I'm sure 6th graders would have no trouble building one of these kits with just a little help. The group I'll be working with next week are in 7th grade.

[foamnpacktape]

Thanks guys,
I am in Canada, so shipping may be slightly more expensive. Canada Customs better not try to get duty on these.

[love2fish93]

Would you mind me asking where you are all at? I fly a hbz supercub now but a lot of my friends would love to see this.


thanks,

Pat

[aeajr]

Brian,

How did your events go?

[BrianRickman]

Brian,

How did your events go?

This was last year, but they went great. We did programs with two different schools:

1) We did a program with an elementary school, where the kids built AMA Delta Dart kits and then flew them in the school gym. Flight times ranged from about 5 seconds to almost a full minute. We also did a demo of outdoor RC airplanes and helicopters for the same group of kids.

2) We did a program with a high school where the kids built RC planes from Blue Fan Fold Foam. The PTA had raised the money for RC gear, motors, and batteries. The kids worked in groups of two or three to build and fly the planes. None of the kids really learned to fly, mostly due to lack of time, but about half of the planes flew well with the help of a buddy box.

At each school we worked with about 60 kids over a period of several weeks.

We've been asked to come back to the elementary school again this year. Some of the guys in the club are designing a better free-flight rubber power plane for the kids to build this year.

I'm not sure what's happening with the high school this year, but the teacher and principal were both enthusiastic about the program last year, so we'll probably be invited back there too.

[foamnpacktape]

Good to hear Brian.

I have yet to hear from the grade six class this year. New grade six teacher, and I have no kids in his class, so I will probably go over in the next couple of weeks and let him know I am still willing to do my little seminar again.

Better prepared, as I have two PalmZ's and an avenger the kids can have a go with, and an Ember for demonstrative purposes. Time is short so I won't be looking into the Darts this year.

Cheers,
foam.

[aeajr]

Thanks for the reports guys.

I have never done a school program but have given it some thought from time to time.

[foamnpacktape]

Thanks for the reports guys.

I have never done a school program but have given it some thought from time to time.

Do pursue it, I can't express enough my selfish enjoyment in the endeavor. I've got a file folder full of illustrated Thank You's from the children that are amusing to read, and warm my heart. :)

Regards,
foam.

[JJDemery]

As a teacher I suppose I have gone one better - rather than take my club to the school I have set a club in the school, although our membership stands at around 12 students it is a very active club.

this is our school:
http://www.stdavidscollege.co.uk/home.php?/Home

and this is our club:
http://uk.geocities.com/sdcflyerz/

[love2fish93]

As a teacher I suppose I have gone one better - rather than take my club to the school I have set a club in the school, although our membership stands at around 12 students it is a very active club.

this is our school:
http://www.stdavidscollege.co.uk/home.php?/Home

and this is our club:
http://uk.geocities.com/sdcflyerz/

How long did it take for it to catch on at the school? As a student, I need to have all of my information in line before I bring it in front of the administration.

pat

[eflightray]

Way back in 1956 we had a model aircraft club at school, (Craft and Design period).

We built some of the models in the classroom and flew them at a sports recreation field, (about a mile away, long walk from school).

They were mainly gliders, rubber power, and control line, (U control in the US).

That's me on the left in the picture below with an own design flying wing control line model.

All schools should have periods where the kids can design, make, and try out 'models' etc. Actual 'hands on manufacturing' to me, is just as important as learning to use a computer for youngsters.

[foamnpacktape]

Way back in 1956 we had a model aircraft club at school, (Craft and Design period).

We built some of the models in the classroom and flew them at a sports recreation field, (about a mile away, long walk from school).

They were mainly gliders, rubber power, and control line, (U control in the US).

That's me on the left in the picture below with an own design flying wing control line model.

All schools should have periods where the kids can design, make, and try out 'models' etc. Actual 'hands on manufacturing' to me, is just as important as learning to use a computer for youngsters.

Very cool eflight, our hobby is truly a valuable one when it comes to education, so many skills and knowledge is developed. Perhaps most of all, school can be quite unattractive at that age, but I bet you looked forward to going to school on the days when you had Craft and Design period. :)

Thanks for sharing the pick, :cool:

foam.

[foamnpacktape]

I was out flying yesterday, and a couple of guys walk over from the nearby residential area. One guy is a teacher at the local catholic school. They are having an open house BBQ type event. He requested that I drop by and fly my planes, payment for my services will be in free hamburgers. :)

Unfortunately the location is relatively small and will be crowded so I am resigned to only flying a simple pusher RET plane. It is small enough with a blunt nose that I can't imagine it injuring even a small child at full speed, sure would be nice to be able to do some full house flying for them though.

Since the school is in close proximity to a LHS, I am going to see if the owner has any want of involvement.

I'll update here.

foam.