RAeS Boeing Build a Plane Schools Project

[Jim Gale]

The LAA is to be involved in the next round of BaP projects.

This time the funding comes from the RAeS following a $100000 donation by the Boeing UK Company, the project having been launched on 17th Dec last year, following research by the RAeS with engineering advice from the LAA's deputy chief engineer Jon Viner and incorporating talks with Stewart Luck and Jim Gale, project leaders of BaP1 (Rans S6) and BaP2 (Xair Hawk).

The RAeS has identified 6 areas of operation for initial project registration and this will firstly go to interested schools in those areas, who will be bidding for a project kit aircraft.

The areas named are Preston, Derby, Gloucester, Bristol, Farnborough/Weybridge and Solent.

So far North Lancs, East Midlands, Gloucester, Bristol and Royal Berkshire Struts have volunteered to cooperate in the scheme, with just the Solent Strut to come on board. In each of the areas the RAeS Branches and the LAA Struts will be working closely together, providing the schools with light aircraft building expertise and LAA inspectors to oversee the projects.

With acknowledgement to the RAeS, I quote an extract from their documentation on the subject:-

This is a major project for the Society and the LAA. With care the funds that have been made available and with further funds attracted, we will support a sequence of aircraft builds allowing the number of students influenced to reach very considerable numbers over the years. The RAeS and the LAA already do a great deal for youth. It is one of the most important responsibilities we have to inspire today's young people and hand over the baton to them. This project adds substantially to that effort. It provides us with a framework that can last for many years and involve members of both organisations at every level.

To conclude, if any member wishes to be part of this superb initiate would they please get in touch with the Struts listed or myself.

Regards, Jim.
Project Liaison, RAeS/LAA.

[ColinC]

Jim, thanks for the update.

May I echo the request that if there is anyone in the East Midlands area who is interested in participating in the project they please get in touch with either myself (Colin Cheese) or Stewart Jackson (East Midlands Strut Co-Ordinator) as soon as possible.

We see this as a very important initiative and are keen to ensure we can properly support bids by local schools.

Contact details can be found here: http://www.laaeastmidlands.org/committee.html