District VII - 2006/05

158 MODEL AVIATION
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.
Ask any CL flier what attracted him or
her to our hobby/sport and you will hear a
variety of reasons. Prominent among them
is the relatively low cost of building and
flying CL aircraft, the availability of flying
sites too small for RC or FF airplanes, and
the unique ability to “feel” the aircraft at the
end of the lines.
When asked about how they got started,
the stories always seem to 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. 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 as parental input and as
workshop students.
Each workshop consists of 10 sessions
during which students build a variety of
increasingly challenging aircraft. Starting
with simple gliders, builders progress
through rubber-powered FF and culminate
their experience with a built-up wing CL
aircraft of .049 to .15
displacements.
Students are then
invited to join
Lansing Area Flying
Aces members at the
club flying site for
pilot training.
The excitement on
the faces of these
young aviators, and
the knowledge that
these kids have been
exposed to a
wholesome alternative
to the many negative
influences present in
our society, is a great
reward in itself.
However, there are
additional benefits to
the club.
By offering the
workshop as part of
the Impression 5
Museum’s educational
program, the club
receives monetary
reimbursement for the
work invested by the
members. In addition,
a number of the
builders discover a
hobby and a club that
meets their needs, so
the 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.
Associate Vice Presidents
Larry Brannan, Grand Rapids
MI; (616) 956-6012;
[email protected]
Ed Bucki, Rockwood MI;
(734) 379-4054; thebuckster@
sbcglobal.net
Bud Gorman, Knife River MN;
[email protected]
Don Held, Elmira MI;
(231) 584-2662; [email protected]
Thomas D. Lazar, Marshall WI;
[email protected]
Jon McVay, Mount Vernon IA;
(319) 895-6527;
[email protected]
Tom Pierce, St. Clair MI; (810)
367-6450; tom_pierce_48070@
yahoo.com
Mark E. Robotti, North
Lindstrom MN; 76214.1624@
compuserve.com
Tom Ryan, Milwaukee WI;
(414) 881-0070; tomcat@
execpc.com
Frequency Coordinators
West: Al Schwartz, Roseville
MN; (651) 633-2286
East: Pete Waters, Northville
MI; (248) 486-4800 D
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Volunteers
District VII
Bill Oberdieck, District VII Vice President; [email protected]
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Graduates of Builder’s Workshop proudly display their projects.
Tim Nickless, another of the club’s instructors, helps a young
modeler frame his final project.
Club instructor Bob Strobel helps a participant in the workshop
with his built-up wing CL model.