Local students' plane takes flight over community

SANDPOINT — The first flight of the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program's Zenith Zodiac CH610XL, built by the students in the program's Aces Aviation Workshop, was a success last week. 

"I have been looking forward to flying that plane for two years," said Ken Larson, the program's pilot training and academic instructor, in an email to the Daily Bee about the plane's flight on Aug. 11. "We always expect problems with a first test flight, but I was quite happy that we didn’t have anything major go wrong."

The students in the Aces Aviation Workshop started with the kit plane donated to the club a couple years ago. They were also donated an engine for the plane, which a certified A&P mechanic helped the students rebuild after it came to them in pieces in four plastic totes. Due to Federal Aviation Administration mandated redesign of certain parts of the plane, the wings and part of the fuselage had to be rebuilt, so the students learned how to remove and replace the skins, drilling out rivets and other tedious tasks. 

Both the engine and the plane have been quite the project for the kids, and they know it through and through. Larson said the FAA examiner who inspected the plane prior to its first flight was impressed with the students and remarked, "This plane really is theirs, isn't it? They know it inside and out."

An FAA inspection was required before the first flight, but the Aces group were cautious leading up to the flight, Larson said, doing engine runs and several hours of taxi tests to make sure the engine and systems were functioning well. Larson said they have a few minor things to fix before the next flight.

Larson was the pilot on the first flight, and under FAA regulations, a plane is required to be tested for a total of 40 hours before anyone can be a passenger. So, for those first hours, only a single pilot is allowed to be in the plane when airborne. The flight line team was there for the big day, Larson said, although some of the students missed it because they had to work. But those who were there were "professional" in getting the plane ready and cheered when Larson landed.

"There is an incredible amount of energy now with our plane builders," Larson said. "We hope to have every student who worked on the plane get to fly it. The ultimate decision on what to do with it is still in the future, but my personal hope is to keep it and use it for training purposes. It is a beautiful plane and very fun to fly."

The group's newest project is a donated 1945 Taylorcraft, which the students have already begun restoring to better-than-new condition. The plan is to make it into the bush plane for back country flights, Larson said.

The NIHSA program consists of three main sections, including the Aces Aviation Workshop; ground school, a regular class held at Sandpoint High School where students get credit to learn to the basic information they need for pilot training; and then flight training, where the students learn how to fly a plane. Many of the students in the program are well on their way to getting their pilot licenses.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.