Precision—it’s what it takes to put a one and a half ounce white little ball into a hole and the driving force in putting together a certified light sport aircraft.
Nationally ranked amateur golfer, Abbey Carlson is a part of Circle Christian’s experimental science class that meets twice a week with their drill bits and goggles in hand.
“Well I mean we are building a plane so that’s pretty awesome but I really wanted to get into it for the engineering aspect of it because I want to major in engineering when I go to college so that’s what’s really fascinating to me,” Carlson said.
The program’s director Scott Malcomb is an instructor and developer at Jet Blue Airways and he is responsible for bringing the program to Circle Christian last year.
This program is an extension of and solely funded by Eagles Nest Projects—a nonprofit aiming to inspire future aviators.
“The airplane kit is not cheap—the kit alone for what we are building back there is about $80,000,” Malcomb explained. “You have to paint it, then you have to insure it, then you have to pay for all the fuel in it so by the time you take these students flying in the airplane and provide them with the 20 hours of instruction and insurance and fuel and everything else this program is about $100,000.”
The class meets at the school’s Winter Springs campus, in the back of the Metro Church building.
Space is limited as 10 students plus mentors pile into the room. On Monday’s the students focus on the academics behind flight, essentially taking their pilot grounds school courses. Then Thursdays are all about the build!
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