By Bernard Wunder, EAA 128167, EAA Chapter 478 Youth Coordinator

The Southern Maryland area has several organizations working to introduce kids to aviation. EAA Chapter 478 is coordinating its efforts to complement these other groups to ensure a wide age and demographic spread of the kids in Southern Maryland have the opportunity to be welcomed into the aviation community.

On April 25, 2026, EAA Chapter 478 partnered with the local AMA Club, the Patuxent Aeromodelers, and hosted a Young Eagles Workshop at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. EAA Chapter 478 has conducted Young Eagles Workshops and Build & Fly (B&F) activities in the past, which have been successful, but lacked one thing — letting the Young Eagles take home an airplane at the end of the event, one they own and built themselves. The one-day workshop that was completed in April was designed to be different; each Young Eagle had the opportunity to build and take home the aircraft they built.

Ten Young Eagles signed up for the workshop and were divided into three teams. The morning sessions consisted of studying basic aerodynamics and flight controls followed by hands-on sessions flying a PC flight simulator, learning how model radio-controlled (RC) components work, and flying miniature drones.

The afternoon session was entirely devoted to building the Flite Test company’s Wonder Glider MKR2 kit. The construction of this model uses foam and hot glue, just like what is done to build EAA’s Young Eagles RC B&F Flite Test Super Scout XL kit. Skills and lessons learned from this workshop, from the perspective of both the student and the EAA/AMA volunteers, will help develop the detailed plans for the upcoming summer camp where each Young Eagle will build their own RC Flite Test Super Scout XL.

Flite Test provides video instructions to show how to construct their airplane models. Five tables were set up with two students per table in a semi-circle around a large screen monitor. Knowing that construction instructions had to be followed exactly and quickly (hot glue sets fast!), each student had an older mentor standing beside them to ensure instructions were followed exactly and to assist as needed. Just like a symphony director, a senior EAA/AMA member led the session, starting and stopping the video to execute each step of the building process.

The model gliders slowly came together. The kids followed directions, and at the end of two-and-a-half hours, there were 10 gliders ready to fly. The only glitch was that the models did not have enough weight and in the right place to correctly balance the glider. Test flights were somewhat erratic and limited, but that was okay since we were in a museum and did not want something to soar overhead and hit an exhibit!

Feedback from the parents and students was overwhelmingly positive. Was the objective for the workshop accomplished? Yes! 10 Young Eagles completed 10 gliders that each was able to take home at the end of the day. 10 FOR 10!