By Bernie Wunder, EAA 128167
EAA recently developed a program called the Young Eagles Build and Fly (YE B&F) for youths to build and fly a remote-controlled (RC) aircraft. The idea is for the local EAA chapter to team up with the local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) club to build and fly a model airplane. EAA sells a complete kit with a balsa wood airplane (SIG E KADET LT-40), tools, electronics, simulators, and more at a very reasonable price to local EAA chapters to promote the program.
EAA Chapter 478 leadership discussed the program in the spring of 2023 but did not have the time or facilities to execute a summer camp that year. When the decision was made to conduct a YE B&F summer camp in 2024, a kit was purchased in the fall of 2023.
Planning meetings started in January 2024 with EAA chapter members and the local AMA chapter, Patuxent Aeromodelers. The decision was immediately made to purchase a second airplane kit so we would have experience in building the model and that we could structure a program that could be completed during a weeklong summer camp. Under the efforts of EAA Chapter 478 members John Reinert, Don Byrne, and Charlie Fox, this second kit model was constructed, and the plan for the summer camp was laid out to complete the building and flying of a similar RC model in just six days.
To also help us understand what was involved in working with a group of Young Eagles doing hands-on projects, we conducted two day-long workshops, one in February and another in March 2024. These workshops consisted of building a wing rib, electrical projects, simulator sessions, and flying drones. It also helped us identify future candidates for the YE B&F summer camp. Eventually, nine youths ranging from ages 12-17 were invited to attend the camp from those attending the winter workshops, from a local high school with an aviation program, and from the local Civil Air Patrol squadron.
On Monday, June 17, the YE B&F camp kicked off at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport (2W6) terminal building. The camp participants were assigned to three individual teams with three kids on each team. The first two and a half days were primarily construction and covering of the balsa wood model airplane. Knowing that we could not have nine kids trying to work on the model at the same time as the model building progressed and assemblies came together, we started doing separate sessions with the teams on different projects. All of the kids completed the FAA TRUST course under the supervision of Greg Stevens. Sid Wood led a workshop on building a wing rib and Chris Moody led a workshop on fabricating a metal cell phone holder. These projects provided hands-on experience for building a full-scale airplane.
On Wednesday afternoon, we took a break and walked next door to the Maryland State Police who gave us a tour of their Trooper 7 helicopter. Thursday morning, we gave each Young Eagle an airplane ride, several for their first time in a small airplane. Thursday afternoon we toured the University of Maryland UAS Research and Development Facility. Meanwhile the building on the RC model continued and focused on the installation of the electrical components, programming of the transmitter, and other RC model tasks led by Joe Allen, president of Patuxent Aeromodelers, with support from club members Rocky McCumbee, Larry Thomas, Larry Young, Michael Mazuc, and others.
Friday was the last day at St. Mary’s airport and focused on such things as a weight and balance exercise, passing a simulator test flight of the model without crashing, drafting a preflight checklist, and finalizing the checkout of the RC model.
Early on Saturday morning, we all showed up at Helwig Field, the Patuxent Aeromodelers RC flying field. Paul Gambacorta, EAA Chapter 478 vice president, welcomed everyone and thanked the volunteers for a successful summer camp. Although it was an extremely hot day, each Young Eagle was given an opportunity to fly the RC model, again led by the expertise of the Patuxent Aeromodelers; they also demonstrated flying RC models, up to and including a turbine-powered jet. We enjoyed hot dogs, chips, drinks, and ice cream for lunch and then broke camp.
Since this was the first time for all of us conducting the Build and Fly program, we learned some lessons for improving, primarily working in the area with the electrical and RC flight components. Pictures of the week-long event were posted by our chapter photographer, Ken Barlow, on the EAA Chapter 478 website: Chapter 478 (eaa.org) .
Overall, it was a great team effort by EAA and AMA members to successfully complete the Young Eagles Build and Fly program and a very rewarding week to see so many young people excited and involved in the world of aviation.