Celebrating a Century of Flight

The 5th grade classes of 2002 and 2003 helped celebrate the Centennial of flight by building a ½ scale model of a 1902 Wright Brothers' Glider.   The students built the wing ribs in a wing jig.   After gluing all the preformed parts together, the students popped the wing rib out of the form.   When the 5 th graders had made 36 ribs, they started constructing the two wings for the glider.   When the wings were completed, the students sanded the wings so they could be covered.  

The wings were covered with aircraft cloth and shrunk over the ribs. The rudder and elevator then had to be glued together with the preformed parts.   They were also covered with fabric.   When the base was completed, the parts were assembled into the final glider.

The glider was presented to the school and parents at an assembly in January 2004.   Two students wrote plays about the Wright Brothers and their diligence in making the first motorized flight in December 1903.   The 5th graders performed these plays for the school and parents.    Students teamed up with another class during the fall to learn more about the Wright brothers and their amazing achievements.

The completed glider now hangs in the Wilder Waite school library.

Below are a few photographs from the project.