District VII - 2006/05
The Lansing Area Flying Aces Builder’s Workshop bridges the generation gap. In cooperation with Impression 5 Science Center, a hands-on learning environment that challenges visitors to experience, discover, and explore the world in which they live, the Lansing Area Flying Aces sponsor a Builder’s Workshop for area youth and adults.
Why people choose CL flying
Ask any CL flier what attracted him or her to our hobby/sport and you will hear a variety of reasons, including:
- The relatively low cost of building and flying CL aircraft.
- The availability of flying sites too small for RC or FF airplanes.
- The unique ability to “feel” the aircraft at the end of the lines.
When asked how they got started, stories often focus on a mentor who guided their early efforts by providing information and encouragement. The Lansing Area Flying Aces club continues this tradition with its Builder’s Workshop.
Builder’s Workshop details
- Offered twice a year at the Impression 5 Science Museum in Lansing, Michigan.
- Participants build their own model airplanes, learn about the physics of flight, and develop good modeling skills.
- Guidance is provided by expert model builders from the Lansing Area Flying Aces.
- Although primarily aimed at kids ages nine and older, adult participation is strongly encouraged both as parental input and as workshop students.
Each workshop consists of 10 sessions during which students build a variety of increasingly challenging aircraft:
- Simple gliders.
- Rubber-powered FF (free flight) models.
- A built-up wing CL aircraft powered by engines in the .049 to .15 displacement range.
Students are then invited to join Lansing Area Flying Aces members at the club flying site for pilot training.
Benefits to the club and community
- The excitement on the faces of young aviators and the knowledge that these kids have been exposed to a wholesome alternative to many negative influences is a great reward.
- By offering the workshop as part of the Impression 5 Museum’s educational program, the club receives monetary reimbursement for the work invested by members.
- Many builders discover a hobby and a club that meets their needs, so club membership grows and the next generation of model aviation enthusiasts is developed.
If your club is looking for an activity that will enhance your community standing, add to the club membership, and plant the seeds that will grow into the next generation of CL pilots, a Builder’s Workshop just might be the way to go.
Introduce a youngster to our hobby — you just might be pleasantly surprised at how much fun it can be when you share.
C.A.V.U.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
