Student Built RV6A Officially Launched

[Aubrey Adams]

In Perth, Western Australia, a project started in March 1997 officially
concluded today (Sunday 19 October) with the Kent Street Senior High
School's Vans RV-6A getting the CASA greenlight to carry pax at a function
this afternoon at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia.

8,500 student hours and over 11,000 rivets saw this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2001.jpg
go to this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/May2002.jpg
to this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2002.jpg
then:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003A.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003B.jpg
and then finally today:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003A.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003B.jpg
http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003C.jpg

First flight of VH-SHS was on 4 September 2003 and has seen the successful
completion of the mandatory 25 hr testing.
This government high school has had a specialist aeronautics program for 23
years, combining aeronautical theory, aeroplane construction and pilot
training.
With the addition of VH-SHS Kent Street's fleet now totals three, joining a
C152 and a C172.
The construction was a fanatastic educational experience for all involved
and now provides a sports plane for the student pilots to move onto and
broaden their flying experience once they've completed the required
proficencies.
All construction (except painting and final fit out) was done at the
school's facility as show in the pix.
It was certainly a privilege to even have a very small part in this project,
which under the expert direction of David Bryant (VH-PLL), is something the
school and its extrememly supportive community can be very proud of.
My lasting memory of being involved was seeing 14-15 year old students, some
of whom could perhaps be a "challenge" in a maths or English class, being
given a piece of aluminium; being shown on the drawings the size, shape and
features they were to produce with this metal; then being shown on the
fuselage on the jig where the finished article was to fit; and then watching
them work at that - simply motivation plus!

I do have earlier pix of the project but they were taken pre-digital days
and require re-scanning - that's something to do later.

cheers
Aubrey

[Ron]

Thanks for the great article honoring these students. More of this sort of
thing & less bickering would make RAH a better place for all.

'Nuf sed!

Ron

"Aubrey Adams" > wrote in message
. au...
> In Perth, Western Australia, a project started in March 1997 officially
> concluded today (Sunday 19 October) with the Kent Street Senior High
> School's Vans RV-6A getting the CASA greenlight to carry pax at a function
> this afternoon at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia.
>
> 8,500 student hours and over 11,000 rivets saw this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2001.jpg
> go to this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/May2002.jpg
> to this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2002.jpg
> then:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003A.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003B.jpg
> and then finally today:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003A.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003B.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003C.jpg
>
> First flight of VH-SHS was on 4 September 2003 and has seen the successful
> completion of the mandatory 25 hr testing.
> This government high school has had a specialist aeronautics program for
23
> years, combining aeronautical theory, aeroplane construction and pilot
> training.
> With the addition of VH-SHS Kent Street's fleet now totals three, joining
a
> C152 and a C172.
> The construction was a fanatastic educational experience for all involved
> and now provides a sports plane for the student pilots to move onto and
> broaden their flying experience once they've completed the required
> proficencies.
> All construction (except painting and final fit out) was done at the
> school's facility as show in the pix.
> It was certainly a privilege to even have a very small part in this
project,
> which under the expert direction of David Bryant (VH-PLL), is something
the
> school and its extrememly supportive community can be very proud of.
> My lasting memory of being involved was seeing 14-15 year old students,
some
> of whom could perhaps be a "challenge" in a maths or English class, being
> given a piece of aluminium; being shown on the drawings the size, shape
and
> features they were to produce with this metal; then being shown on the
> fuselage on the jig where the finished article was to fit; and then
watching
> them work at that - simply motivation plus!
>
> I do have earlier pix of the project but they were taken pre-digital days
> and require re-scanning - that's something to do later.
>
> cheers
> Aubrey
>
>
>

[Rick Pellicciotti]

Aubrey Adams wrote:

> In Perth, Western Australia, a project started in March 1997 officially
> concluded today (Sunday 19 October) with the Kent Street Senior High
> School's Vans RV-6A getting the CASA greenlight to carry pax at a function
> this afternoon at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia.
>
> 8,500 student hours and over 11,000 rivets saw this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2001.jpg
> go to this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/May2002.jpg
> to this:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2002.jpg
> then:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003A.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003B.jpg
> and then finally today:
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003A.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003B.jpg
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003C.jpg
>
> First flight of VH-SHS was on 4 September 2003 and has seen the successful
> completion of the mandatory 25 hr testing.
> This government high school has had a specialist aeronautics program for 23
> years, combining aeronautical theory, aeroplane construction and pilot
> training.
> With the addition of VH-SHS Kent Street's fleet now totals three, joining a
> C152 and a C172.
> The construction was a fanatastic educational experience for all involved
> and now provides a sports plane for the student pilots to move onto and
> broaden their flying experience once they've completed the required
> proficencies.
> All construction (except painting and final fit out) was done at the
> school's facility as show in the pix.
> It was certainly a privilege to even have a very small part in this project,
> which under the expert direction of David Bryant (VH-PLL), is something the
> school and its extrememly supportive community can be very proud of.
> My lasting memory of being involved was seeing 14-15 year old students, some
> of whom could perhaps be a "challenge" in a maths or English class, being
> given a piece of aluminium; being shown on the drawings the size, shape and
> features they were to produce with this metal; then being shown on the
> fuselage on the jig where the finished article was to fit; and then watching
> them work at that - simply motivation plus!
>
> I do have earlier pix of the project but they were taken pre-digital days
> and require re-scanning - that's something to do later.
>
> cheers
> Aubrey
>
>
>
Very nicely done. I have been approached by three different parents groups, representing three

different schools in my area over the years. All of them wanting to do a project like this.

Ultimately, none of them got started once the school's lawyers got wind
of it.

Regards,

Rick Pellicciotti

[Big John]

Rick

My son in law told me about a school in Seattle that was backed by
Boeing.

It's purpose was to train people in high school so Boeing could hire
them when they graduated.

If you wanted a bird built, you bought the kit or parts and they would
build for you. You could come down and do the 51% <G> with them and
also check the quality of their workmanship which was top class with
the professional instructors they had. Not sure if it is still in
operation but if I had been in Seattle would have built one of the
'hot' homebuilts.

Big John

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 22:20:47 -0500, Rick Pellicciotti
> wrote:

>
>
>Aubrey Adams wrote:
>
>> In Perth, Western Australia, a project started in March 1997 officially
>> concluded today (Sunday 19 October) with the Kent Street Senior High
>> School's Vans RV-6A getting the CASA greenlight to carry pax at a function
>> this afternoon at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia.
>>
>> 8,500 student hours and over 11,000 rivets saw this:
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2001.jpg
>> go to this:
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/May2002.jpg
>> to this:
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Dec2002.jpg
>> then:
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003A.jpg
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/March2003B.jpg
>> and then finally today:
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003A.jpg
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003B.jpg
>> http://members.iinet.net.au/~eaadams/kshsrv6a/Oct2003C.jpg
>>
>> First flight of VH-SHS was on 4 September 2003 and has seen the successful
>> completion of the mandatory 25 hr testing.
>> This government high school has had a specialist aeronautics program for 23
>> years, combining aeronautical theory, aeroplane construction and pilot
>> training.
>> With the addition of VH-SHS Kent Street's fleet now totals three, joining a
>> C152 and a C172.
>> The construction was a fanatastic educational experience for all involved
>> and now provides a sports plane for the student pilots to move onto and
>> broaden their flying experience once they've completed the required
>> proficencies.
>> All construction (except painting and final fit out) was done at the
>> school's facility as show in the pix.
>> It was certainly a privilege to even have a very small part in this project,
>> which under the expert direction of David Bryant (VH-PLL), is something the
>> school and its extrememly supportive community can be very proud of.
>> My lasting memory of being involved was seeing 14-15 year old students, some
>> of whom could perhaps be a "challenge" in a maths or English class, being
>> given a piece of aluminium; being shown on the drawings the size, shape and
>> features they were to produce with this metal; then being shown on the
>> fuselage on the jig where the finished article was to fit; and then watching
>> them work at that - simply motivation plus!
>>
>> I do have earlier pix of the project but they were taken pre-digital days
>> and require re-scanning - that's something to do later.
>>
>> cheers
>> Aubrey
>>
>>
>>
>Very nicely done. I have been approached by three different parents groups, representing three
>
>different schools in my area over the years. All of them wanting to do a project like this.
>
>Ultimately, none of them got started once the school's lawyers got wind
>of it.
>
>Regards,
>
>Rick Pellicciotti
>

[Aubrey Adams]

"Rick Pellicciotti" > wrote in message
...
>
> Very nicely done. I have been approached by three different parents
groups, representing three
>
> different schools in my area over the years. All of them wanting to do a
project like this.
>
> Ultimately, none of them got started once the school's lawyers got wind
> of it.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rick Pellicciotti
>
>

Yeah lawyers - whatever they think or do can't change that the fact that
life is a risk, you're born, you live, then you die.
At one point in this project there was a hint that the project would be
completed then made unairworthy and used for ground instruction purposes
only but this was only minor posturing amongst a couple of state education
bureaucrats jostling for attention or something.
Similarly the Office of the State Minister of Education gave extremely
careful consideration to the fact that the Minister was to be the CoR
holder - but on this occasion practical common sense did prevail.

In reality probably enough metal was used to make one and half planes - if a
piece didn't come up to the mark, it was of course scrapped and the students
lead through the process that would ensure that next time it would be up to
standard. But they knew this - I doubt there was one student involved over
life of the project who didn't realise the responsiblilty of what they were
doing.
I saw kids take a piece to the instructor and say - "this isn't good enough
is it?" - and they would know why too. Too often we underestimate (and
misunderstand) the level of real responsibiltity that our youth will
willingly take given the right environment and context.

In addition of course the aircraft is clearly placarded as Experimental,
passengers only ride if they agree to do so at their own risk; it is not a
training aircraft, only those appropriately transistioned will fly it; and
it will not be rented out commercially. These operating parameters have
been known and articulated since the beginning of the project and everyone
is happy to abide by them.

Tell the lawyers to take their scaremongering elsewhere.

cheers
Aubrey

[Ron Wanttaja]

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 12:18:19 -0500, Big John > wrote:

>Rick
>
>My son in law told me about a school in Seattle that was backed by
>Boeing.
>
>It's purpose was to train people in high school so Boeing could hire
>them when they graduated.
>
>If you wanted a bird built, you bought the kit or parts and they would
>build for you. You could come down and do the 51% <G> with them and
>also check the quality of their workmanship which was top class with
>the professional instructors they had. Not sure if it is still in
>operation but if I had been in Seattle would have built one of the
>'hot' homebuilts.

This sounds like "Opportunity Skyways," which is an alternative high school
program for disadvantaged kids. However, I'm not sure about the
building-other-people's-airplanes-for-them part. Though some of our
chapter members (we meet in their shop) have provided some kits for them.
Several of our chapter members also work as advisors for the program.

For the most part, the group builds the same airplanes over and over. They
build a Zenair, then take it apart. Then the next year's class does it
again.

I think the first time the plane was built, it was flown once (by one of
our chapter tech counselor/flight advisors. Don't think the lawyers have
let it fly again.

Like I said, our chapter (EAA 26) meets in their Boeing Field shop, which
usually has a nice broad selection of homebuilts (including a helicopter)
under various stages of construction.

Ron Wanttaja

[Big John]

Ron

Many years ago when Robert Borovec told me about this so details may
have slipped some :o).

We need more schools like this one to provide them a background in
Aviation.

Big John


On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 01:24:25 GMT, Ron Wanttaja >
wrote:

>On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 12:18:19 -0500, Big John > wrote:
>
>>Rick
>>
>>My son in law told me about a school in Seattle that was backed by
>>Boeing.
>>
>>It's purpose was to train people in high school so Boeing could hire
>>them when they graduated.
>>
>>If you wanted a bird built, you bought the kit or parts and they would
>>build for you. You could come down and do the 51% <G> with them and
>>also check the quality of their workmanship which was top class with
>>the professional instructors they had. Not sure if it is still in
>>operation but if I had been in Seattle would have built one of the
>>'hot' homebuilts.
>
>This sounds like "Opportunity Skyways," which is an alternative high school
>program for disadvantaged kids. However, I'm not sure about the
>building-other-people's-airplanes-for-them part. Though some of our
>chapter members (we meet in their shop) have provided some kits for them.
>Several of our chapter members also work as advisors for the program.
>
>For the most part, the group builds the same airplanes over and over. They
>build a Zenair, then take it apart. Then the next year's class does it
>again.
>
>I think the first time the plane was built, it was flown once (by one of
>our chapter tech counselor/flight advisors. Don't think the lawyers have
>let it fly again.
>
>Like I said, our chapter (EAA 26) meets in their Boeing Field shop, which
>usually has a nice broad selection of homebuilts (including a helicopter)
>under various stages of construction.
>
>Ron Wanttaja

[Stealth Pilot]

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 08:52:02 +0800, "Aubrey Adams"
> wrote:


>At one point in this project there was a hint that the project would be
>completed then made unairworthy and used for ground instruction purposes
>only but this was only minor posturing amongst a couple of state education
>bureaucrats jostling for attention or something.

did you know that Midland TAFE in WA once built 2 bushby or mini
mustangs. as a part of an adult (I think) aviation skills workshop
series.

despite all attempts by the guys to buy them, absolve tafe of all
liability, etc the goons in the admin end of things saw to it that
they were dismantled, engines and instruments flogged off then put
through a guillotine.
to my knowledge the guys have never bothered with them again.

....so for Dave Bryant, never mind the challenge of building the kit,
getting it intact through the school admin and actually flying for the
school aviation program is a feat worthy of a medal.
Good on you Dave.

Stealth Pilot

[Model Flyer]

"Aubrey Adams" > wrote in message
. au...
> In Perth, Western Australia, a project started in March 1997
officially

> fuselage on the jig where the finished article was to fit; and then
watching
> them work at that - simply motivation plus!
>
> I do have earlier pix of the project but they were taken
pre-digital days
> and require re-scanning - that's something to do later.
>

I am looking forward to seeing the earlier pix and some of it's first
flight.:-)
--

..
--
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe
whatever at antispam dot net
No email address given because of spam.
Antispam trap in place


> cheers
> Aubrey
>
>
>

[Aubrey Adams]

"Stealth Pilot" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 08:52:02 +0800, "Aubrey Adams"
> > wrote:
>
>
> >At one point in this project there was a hint that the project would be
> >completed then made unairworthy and used for ground instruction purposes
> >only but this was only minor posturing amongst a couple of state
education
> >bureaucrats jostling for attention or something.
>
> did you know that Midland TAFE in WA once built 2 bushby or mini
> mustangs. as a part of an adult (I think) aviation skills workshop
> series.
> despite all attempts by the guys to buy them, absolve tafe of all
> liability, etc the goons in the admin end of things saw to it that
> they were dismantled, engines and instruments flogged off then put
> through a guillotine.


Of course I was far too diplomatic to say where those posturing bureaucrats
were from, but it seems their infamy precedes them :-)


> ...so for Dave Bryant, never mind the challenge of building the kit,
> getting it intact through the school admin and actually flying for the
> school aviation program is a feat worthy of a medal.
> Good on you Dave.
>
> Stealth Pilot

While Dave was certainly the focus of things associated with this project
the overall aviation program has an extremely strong team, both within the
school and its community, whose advocacy skills and experience are second to
none. Besides if things did become too tough, which although it was a long
and tedious process it didn't come to this, I'm sure that fact that the
school is in the state Premier's electorate and his kids attended it would
been raised in the appropriate arenas - ok, not everyone has that stick to
wield, but if you have it and it becomes necessary (which again I stress it
didn't) well, why not use it.

Aubrey

[Aubrey Adams]

"Ron Wanttaja" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 12:18:19 -0500, Big John > wrote:
>
>
> This sounds like "Opportunity Skyways," which is an alternative high
school
> program for disadvantaged kids. However, I'm not sure about the
> building-other-people's-airplanes-for-them part. Though some of our
> chapter members (we meet in their shop) have provided some kits for them.
> Several of our chapter members also work as advisors for the program.
>
> For the most part, the group builds the same airplanes over and over.
They
> build a Zenair, then take it apart. Then the next year's class does it
> again.
>
> I think the first time the plane was built, it was flown once (by one of
> our chapter tech counselor/flight advisors. Don't think the lawyers have
> let it fly again.
>
> Ron Wanttaja

Geez what a shame - and where's the educational benefit in doing this?
Ok they may pick up some hand skills and workshop techniques knowledge but
where's the motivation in building something knowing it's only going to be
dismantled when you're done?

If these kids are disadvantaged in some way many probably have enough crap
and purposelessness (? you know what I mean) in their lives already to put
up with besides being required to play at pretend aeroplane builders.

A kid is presented with the opportunity to actually participate in a team to
build a real, somewhat complex piece of applied technology and engineering
that can actually fly, only to have their efforts deemed not trustworthy
enough to see the project through to its ultimate and rightful conclusion -
sounds like a recipe for alienation on a grand scale to me. No doubt these
lawyers are among the first to bemoan any increase in youth perpetuated
vandlism and crime too.

Aubrey