By Laura Katauskas | Bugle Staff
In a quest to build an airplane, the “One Year Wonder” is a project that is literally taking shape.
Looking to both engage aviation enthusiasts as well as connect with the community, Bolingbrook’s Illinois Aviation Museum launched the project last year at Bolingbrook’s Clow International Airport.
Engaging more than 400 people since then, young and old, everyone has a hand in the construction of a Zenith Aircraft CH 750 Cruzer.
The project is expected to cost more than $40,000 to complete and a recent donation is helping continue the process.
Ben Seidel, CEO of Midwest Fuel Injection announced his commitment to the project at the “State of the Village” address and recently presented the museum with a $5,000 donation March 10.
“The sponsorship will help us reach our goal,” said Larry Greenwich, president of the Illinois Aviation Museum. “We are constantly looking for sources of revenue, as this is not our only project. We recently built two new viewing stands for the restored jets outside of the museum and the cost of wood is not cheap.”
Greenwich said the plane build is coming along on schedule with build sessions being promoted on facebook for dates and times. Building sessions are being held on Saturdays until the project is complete.
Participants of the project have the opportunity to engage in all facets of building an experimental kit aircraft. The project covers a vast variety of elements of aviation including learning safety around aircraft, aircraft parts and aircraft construction tools; the basics of aerodynamics, the major parts of an airplane and what makes an airplane fly.
In addition, participants will learn to read and interpret aircraft plans and drawings; engage in the fabrication and construction of aircraft components; help to keep building records to satisfy aviation regulators and authorities; all while developing problem solving and leadership skills.
The project was inspired after a similar project launched, the “One Week Wonder,” in OshKosh, Wis. last summer at the annual AirVenture convention, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
The group expects to have the plane ready by summer 2017 to make the flight to the annual EAA convention in Oshkosh.
The museum’s mission is centered around the fact that the future of aviation lies in the youth and is committed to educate, preserve and promote aviation through community involvement, with projects such as these.
“After the A4-C roll out last October and the completion of the new runway at Clow, and looking forward to this year’s Cavalcade of planes, we are on a roll with projects,” said Greenwich.
The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook is a consortium of individuals and groups dedicated to advancing aviation and engineering. It operates out of Hangar One, a 6,000 square-foot-facility at Bolingbrook’s Clow International Airport.
There are no formal requirements to join the free project with kids, families and all groups invited to attend. For more information, contact the museum at 630-771-1937 or exec@illinoisaviationmuseum.org.