Build A Plane began operations in 2003 as a
non-profit organization dedicated to promoting aviation and
aerospace careers by giving young people the opportunity to
build real airplanes. Aircraft construction and restoration
projects provide an exciting opportunity to motivate kids to
learn virtually any facet of science, technology, engineering
and mathematics when applied to this program.
Now in a formal partnership with the Federal Aviation
Administration, Build A Plane has dozens of projects operating
in the United States and several overseas. Our goal is to
establish 100 Build A Plane projects by the end of 2008 and 300
by the end of this decade.
Build A Plane’s remarkable success can be attributed to the
following:
- Schools across America are in search of
new and unique ways to present core learning skills, like
those offered by Build A Plane projects.
- Kids are excited by airplanes, and
aviation offers them a real-world reason to use science,
technology, engineering and math.
- There are thousands of unairworthy
aircraft and incomplete kit planes that are prime candidates
for a Build A Plane project, usually available at little or
no cost.
*Aircraft donors receive tax benefits through the program’s
501(c)(3) status
- There are thousands of adults who have
expert knowledge about aircraft construction and
refurbishment who are willing to donate their time.
- Most importantly, there are thousands of
kids who would love the opportunity to be exposed to
aviation as a vocation or avocation via a Build A Plane
project.
How Build A Plane Works
Build A Plane seeks aircraft donations, as well as the names of
interested high schools, young people, EAA (Experimental
Aircraft Association) groups and private individuals who want to
participate in a project to build a real airplane. Build A Plane
then matches the incoming aircraft to the needs of the
individual groups. So far, no two project aircraft are alike.
Kit aircraft and certified airplanes of all description have
been donated to give young people a real-world, hands-on
experience of construction and restoration. Thanks to the
generosity of the aviation community, Build A Plane has placed
more than a million dollars’ worth of project aircraft into the
hands of kids and their adult mentors.
- Build A Plane donates the aircraft to the
local group at no charge, and Build A Plane retains no
ownership of the project airplanes.
- Most Build A Plane projects are in high
schools; however BAP programs are also underway in local EAA
chapters, church groups, aviation maintenance technician
schools and enthusiastic aviation clubs. Any organization
that is willing to promote aviation and provide an
opportunity for young people to build a real airplane can be
considered for selection as a Build A Plane group.
- Build A Plane groups can also access
extant aviation curricula.
*For example, BAP can help your school receive up to $1.5
million worth of Computer Assisted Design software for free.
- Build A Plane can arrange up to 6 hours
of college credit for on-line aviation programs developed by
the EAA and Utah Valley State College.
- Thanks to industry-wide support, the
local Build A Plane group is provided one-on-one contact
with a variety of experts to serve as technical support and
to answer questions to insure a BAP project’s success.
- The BuildAPlane.org website also offers a
real-time bulletin board for BAP members around the world to
meet, share experiences or materials, problem-solve or
network.
- To make Build A Plane attractive and
accessible to groups everywhere, there are no fees of any
kind to join.
Contact Build A Plane
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