The sky’s the limit THE AUST LIAN EDUCATION REPORTER

“This project provides a terrific pathway for students with a passion for aeronautics and engineering.”

LAUNCESTON Church Grammar School students are set to build a single engine aircraft as part of their STEM program.

The full-size RV12 plane is a two seat, single engine, ready-to-fly aircraft manufactured by Vans Aircraft in Oregon, USA, and will be sold for commercial use once complete.

“It’s an exciting project, a really quite extraordinary project which not many students around the world have ever got the chance to do,” Headmaster Richard Ford said.

“Our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programmes provide many opportunities for accelerated learning and this project provides a terrific pathway for students with a passion for aeronautics and engineering.”

The school has quite a history of aeronautic alumni, with Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh the founder of QANTAS, Captain Victor Clive Holyman and Sir Ivan Nello Holyman who founded the airlines that would eventually become Ansett, and David Warren AO, the inventor of the ‘black box’ flight data recorder all attending the school.

“Aviation’s part of who we’ve always been, and that’s still the case today,” Mr Ford said.

“We’ve got teachers here who like to build planes on the weekend, we’ve got students who’ve got their pilots license that are already flying.”

Students will receive teaching guidance from several staff members who have aviation experience, as well as having access to Boeing test pilot, Andrew Cangia, who is also a school parent.

Senior Campus teacher and project coordinator Dr Cameron Rogers (PHD in Mathematics) said the project was expected to take about 1000 hours to complete – or between one to two years – with many students coming on board to help.

“We are prioritising students who have an active interest in aviation already and letting in as many as we can,” Dr Rogers said.

“There are about 10,000 rivets in the aeroplane to put together, so that should keep the students busy for a bit.”

He is also keen to fast-track the construction timeline, and to secure a buyer which will help with funding for the project.

“We’re also keen to hear from members of the public with aviation experience who may be able to offer assistance so this is a truly community project,” Dr Roger said.

“This project provides a terrific pathway for students with a passion for aeronautics and engineering.”

Components for the kit aircraft have arrived ready for construction to begin.