Progress on the plane: as slow as snail
Progress on enjoying summer: going well
We introduced next year's members to aviation meetings now. They are working on practice kits we got from vans. The main reason our progress is so slow is because literally every part we need is back ordered. Vans is at a melting point. Our original goal from March to finish the plane by EAA is a big bust. Even with over 100 hours of work time in summer, we weren't able to get all the stuff done. The main structure is mostly complete, but installing the small things like the electronics, control lines, etc. is TAKING FOREVER.
It took me 6 hours of work time to install the ELT. Which was literally half of a page on section 42: Common Electrical (which is over 40 pages long).We are working, but its a slow and laborious process. We have plenty of people, but not much space on 1 fuselage. For the ELT, I spent atleast 2 hours just looking for parts. We MUST adopt a better method of storing and organizing parts.
The group went camping EAA together. It was a lot of fun. Everyone had an assignment: they must interview 2 people and ask 3 questions related to aviation. I was able to talk to an Aerospace Engineer and talk about the steps I could take to follow that career path. Other kids such as Richard Glidden was able to talk to air line pilots and see his options. Rebecca met a metal worker who worked on the Saturn V (the rocket that went to the moon) who had met Neil Armstrong. I will hear from the rest of the kids when we each present our interviews at the next meeting.
We also met a group from Naples Florida who were also high schoolers and middle schoolers working on making a kit plane.
Several students are taking flight lessons. They are going well, despite a hiccup. On July 20th a group of them (including me) went and did all of our 3rd class medicals together.
We also said our goodbyes to Holden Glass. He is heading out to college now. It was amazing having him in the trial year of the program.