Some Advice/Mentoring an 18yo HS Senior

[glenn hatfield]

Kept to the 40 sized stuff.  With AMA and club expenses $400 is OK for 
the 40 sized equipment.  As for kits, and of the 40 sized trainers are 
OK; most have been around for a long time.  The GP or Sig kits go 
together pretty quick and use interlocking constuction.  On real need 
for a laser kit and they usually cost most that the die-cut kits.  Get 
an os 46 FX for the engine for aroun $110.  You could go cheaper, but 
the OS 46 is a real good engien with some growth potential.  So it can 
be used for 2nd and 3rd planes; and it has good re-sale value if she 
doe not stay around the hobby.

Randy



----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Budd <jbudd at QNET.COM>
Date: Friday, February 14, 2003 5:22 am
Subject: Some Advice/Mentoring an 18yo HS Senior

> Hi all,
> 
> I need a bit of advice.
> 
> A few days ago I was asked to mentor an 18 yr old high school 
> senior 
> who wants to build and fly an R/C airplane for her senior project. 
> Yes, HER senior project.  She's a 4.6 (on a 4.0 scale) advanced 
> placement, honors student (1380 on her SAT) who is waiting to hear 
> back on her appointment to the USAF Academy.  She worked last 
> summer 
> for 10 weeks an a high school apprentice at NASA Dryden in the 
> Research Propulsion Directorate.  She is also active in tennis, 
> swimming, choir, mock trial, Academic Decathalon, Mathleets, and 
> her 
> church (which is how she was refered to me).  Her first mentor 
> quit 
> on her about two weeks ago, and left her hanging with no plan and 
> only 10 weeks or so to get this accomplished.  I asked and she 
> said 
> that her preference is to build an airplane from a kit, instead of 
> quickly assembling an ARF.  Her father also has a complete 
> woodworking shop that she can use, including tools.  She is 
> clearly 
> an overachiever and she has a great attitude.  I really think this 
> is 
> going to be a lot of fun.
> 
> So what's the problem?  Well, I've been away from trainers and 
> flight 
> instruction for long enough that I don't exactly know what to 
> recommend for an airplane.  I'm thinking 40 sized rather than 60 
> sized to help keep the costs down, although $$$ isn't much of a 
> problem since she said she'll be spending her own $$$, not her 
> parents $$$.  She said that she budgeted around $400.
> 
> The following airplane was recommended to me due to the laser cut 
> parts that fit extremely well, and also because of the very easy 
> to 
> follow, photo illustrated manual:
> 
> http://www.checkerboardair.com/cbweb1004.htm
> 
> I'm leaving early Friday morning for a contest in Phoenix, AZ but 
> I 
> would appreciate any and all suggesctions be eMailed back to me 
> and 
> I'll look them over when I return Sunday night.  A recommendation 
> on 
> a motor and a radio would also be appreciated!
> 
> Thx, Jerry
> 
> -- 
> ___________
> Jerry Budd
> jbudd at qnet.com
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