School project

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Tony R

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Let me preface this with a clear statement *** I know nothing about aircraft building ***

I'm hoping to gain some knowledge and get pointed in the right direction. Is this even feasible...??

If I were to buy a Vans RV kit for a highschool to complete over the years, who would be the builder? The shop teacher? Can I own the plane afterwards? I understand this is a donation to a high school with the hope to encourage these bright hard working kids in my son's highschool to get involved in aviation.

I think step 1 is to visit my local EAA chapter and become a student myself. If anyone has done something like this please reach out to me and provide some wisdom.
 
This has been done a number of times. Typically the kits are RV-12s, which are E-LSA. An E-LSA lists Van's Aircraft as the builder. There was one done local to me (Omaha, NE). The airplane was privately funded, and when finished a flying club was formed. That plane is hangared down the row from mine and has over 2700 hours on it now.

Van's even has a page about teen builds: https://www.vansaircraft.com/stem/
 
DaleB said:
This has been done a number of times. Typically the kits are RV-12s, which are E-LSA. An E-LSA lists Van's Aircraft as the builder.
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This has been done long before RV-12s even existed. If it's an EAB, usually the teacher or other person involved in the build gets listed as the builder. If the person donating a kit is involved with the build he could be the builder. ELSA lists the kit maker as the builder as Dale said. Often the completed plane is sold to fund the next build, but there's no reason the person providing the kit couldn't retain ownership if the deal with the school is structured that way.
 
You're putting a lot of faith in high school kids and the shop teacher.
 
Racerx said:
You're putting a lot of faith in high school kids and the shop teacher.
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I've seen a number of teen built airplanes, and the construction quality has been excellent. Typically the "shop teacher" either is an airplane builder, or they have a number of experienced builders as mentors, or both. The one I watched get built had at least a dozen EAA members helping to train and supervise.
 
DaleB said:
I've seen a number of teen built airplanes, and the construction quality has been excellent. Typically the "shop teacher" either is an airplane builder, or they have a number of experienced builders as mentors, or both. The one I watched get built had at least a dozen EAA members helping to train and supervise.
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Based on the original post, I was under the assumption the shop teacher didnt have experience building something like this.
 
I belong to an EAA chapter that has a youth build program. They build RV 12s a good airplane to learn in.
 
Racerx said:
Based on the original post, I was under the assumption the shop teacher didnt have experience building something like this.
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I think a person with no experience could successfully complete a solid, safe RV-12. Lots of people have. A shop teacher would have a leg up on the mechanical aptitude required, and teaching the kids along the way. Most of the work is pretty straightforward. There’s no welding, the wing spars are already factory built. It’s pretty normal hand tool stuff and being able to follow directions. Van’s has learning kits that could be used teach the basics of construction as well.

Obviously it would be much better to have some experienced mentors helping out, and in most areas if there’s an EAA chapter those will not be in short supply.
 
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