Sonex offers discount
for schools building planes
By Barbara A. Schmitz
 |
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The Sonex Xenos is
one of the aircraft available for a discount in the company’s
new educational initiative. Photo by Jim Koepnick |
Remember building that
birdhouse in shop class? Or how about changing spark plugs in power
mechanics? Industrial tech classes could get a lot more exciting if your
school or organization takes advantage of Sonex Aircraft’s new
educational initiative.
Launched during EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2006, the initiative offers a 10 percent discount on
Sonex, Waiex, or Xenos complete airframe kits and AeroConversions
AeroVee engines.
The reasoning behind the
initiative is simple, according to Mark Schaible, Sonex education
initiative project leader. "We want more schools and community
organizations to build airplanes with youth."
Sonex’s founders, John
and Betty Monnett, were both teachers, Schaible said, and their
backgrounds in education were the catalyst for the company’s
initiative.
In addition to the
discount, Sonex has created a website that offers free discussion groups
for teachers and students, a database of curriculum resources, and
advice on how to start, teach, and administer airplane construction. In
addition, schools or organizations will be able to access a free build
log, allowing others to track the project online.
Rob Riggen of Expercraft,
said the simple log system allows participants to organize information
and easily track time and money spent on building a plane, as well as
being a useful collaboration tool.
Participating schools and
organizations can also attend free workshops, allowing teachers to learn
more about airplane construction, Schaible said. Four schools are
currently building Sonex airplanes.
Peter Denny, a Washburn,
Minnesota, high school teacher, will serve as Sonex Education Initiative
chairman. As chairman, Denny will advise educators, compile a
downloadable curriculum database, and more.
He currently uses a Sonex
construction project in his class and has championed the cause of
aviation education.
Key to building an
airplane in a school is involving the local EAA chapter, Denny said. He
acknowledged that some school districts may be nervous about having
students build a plane. "My school is building an airplane, while
another district 20 miles away can get nervous about kids building
birdhouses," he said. But precedent should help to ease fears.
To learn more about the program, stop by
the Sonex exhibit (464-470) in the North Aircraft Display area.
