I'm normally an instructor at an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic training school. I've been asked to teach a 2 week academy to a class of 12 high schoolers grades 10-12 who have been flagged as at-risk students. The high school is trying to curb its dropout rate. I'm charged with developing this 30-hr, hands-on academy to spark interest and promote math and science.

My plan thus far... I've got all the electric-flyer gear on order to build two rudder-elevator fuselages. I'll build those and have them ready for the class ahead of time. Each student will select an airfoil type, test it in our wind tunnel, and build a foamie, dihedral wing that can be strapped on the fuselage with rubber bands. They'll all get a small orientation block of flight simulator time in preparation for our session at the flying field. At the flying field we'll accomplish 2 things for each student. 1. Run a 10-lap, timed race to see who built the fasted wing... and 2. Let each student fly their wing for a short session on the buddy cord. They all get to keep their wings in case they want to get involved in RC.

The class culminates in a ride for groups of 3 students each in a Cessna 182 (that'd be full scale) with all the ground school weight and balance and navigational activity that would require leading up to their ride.

Anybody got any similar experiences/suggestions they'd like to share on this topic?
Thanks
Greg

Sounds like a great project.

It will be interesting to see if the project changes any lives. I bet it does. It does sound like you may have more planned then will fit into 30 hours though.