Build A Plane Project
.jpg)
Mr. Lyn Freeman,
editor of Plane & Pilot magazine, wrote an article in the December 2003
issue of his magazine in which he proposed the idea of offering young adults an
opportunity to get involved in General Aviation by either building an airplane
or restoring an old airplane. Our Headmaster, Col Kennedy, who himself is a
pilot and aviation aficionado, read the article and contacted the editor to
express an interest in starting such a program at SMA. Several months later Mr.
Freeman called to inform Col Kennedy that a gentleman in Raleigh, NC was willing
to donate to SMA a home built airplane project that he was no longer able to
complete. Col Kennedy accepted the offer and in September SMA took delivery of a
40% complete Mustang II home built airplane kit. The airplane is now stored in a
hangar at the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. The plan is for the SMA CAP cadets to
work on the airplane under direction of Captain Petrucci, the Build A Plane
Project Officer. Captain Petrucci has contacted several local pilots who have
experience building their own airplanes. These gentlemen will mentor the cadets
and teach them fundamental airplane construction. Cadets will begin working on
the Mustang II after school in the very near future.