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If you build it, it will fly.

The Morristown Experimental Flight Association Chapter 1494’s Young Eagles’ latest project has the students dreaming of flight taking on the flight of fancy of constructing a working flying model airplane through the “Build and Fly” program. Cherokee RC Flyers is also helping with this project. This project kicked off January 7 and will be ongoing for the next few months.

According to EAA President Karen Hughes-Collins, there are currently 15 participants that are broken into two groups; Team Wednesday and Team Saturday with each session lasting four hours each session.

“Like our other workshops, the objective is to give student hands on experience building and ultimately flying a SIG Kadet LT-40 electric airplane kit,” Hughes-Collins said. “Participants will gain experience in planning, fitting, assembly with specialty adhesives, sanding, wiring, mechanical assembly and a host of other skills required for its successful completion. And most importantly, the detailed documentation and verification that would be required if one were to build their own full scale airplane.”

To date each team has completed one of the two wing sections. Saturday, the group joined the wing panels and installation of the ailerons, which is some of the more delicate work of the project.

Danny McCarthy, the instructor for both the Wednesday and Saturday classes, said that the groups are moving along very nicely and are picking up right where they are needed.

“They’ve built the wing from the kit,” McCarthy said. “The guys are finishing up. Molly is getting ready to install the hinges for the ailerons to put on the wing. (Another) crew is moving into building the fuselage and are doing some of the preliminary work mounting the landing gear to the bulkhead and the motor to the bulkhead.”

McCarthy said that the schedule of work will take the project out to mid-April.

“We’re going to do a lot with the kids,” he said. “There’s going to be a computer and a simulator. The simulator will teach the kids how to fly the airplane on a computer. Then we’re going to pair up with the Cherokee RC Flyers and use their instructors to help work with the kids. Hopefully, by the end of the summer, we’ll have them all flying the plane that they built.

“We’re introducing these kids to tools that they’ve never used,” McCarthy said.

Molly Johnson, a junior at Jefferson County High School, cut a spot for a hinge on the aileron using an X-acto knife.

“I am trying to get a scholarship so I can get my pilot’s license,” Johnson said. “I just have to (cut a) slit in the webbing.”

Ernie Rice, of Cherokee RC Flyers, was supervising the sanding of the wings at Saturday’s session.

“I’m here to help because I know about these airplanes,” he said. “I believe when the plane is built, someone will test fly it. It’s amazing when you take a pile of sticks like this and make it fly. You get a real sense of accomplishment that you did something. It’s a learning experience for everybody.”

McCarthy is encouraged at the progress the two classes are making toward completion.

“I’m excited to see them gain experience and to work to improve their skills every week,” McCarthy said. “Everybody should all be very proud.”

The Wednesday classes meet from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the Saturday classes meeting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.