BAND PROJECT                    

                        

   Kyle's bandmaster at Bacon academy was preparing the band for a 
 concert that involved some music about space and since there was going to be
 a display about space in the lobby he asked each band person to come up with
 some kind of project about that.  It looked sort of like a science fair when
 they presented it, with many students doing dioramas and posters, etc. 

   But Kyle, who had wanted to build the Shuttle from the plans he had ordered
 thought this was a perfect time to do it.  He built it in two weeks in
 between meals and homework.   He had it ready for the display and when they
 created a video CD about the display his plane took a prominent place.
 (Needless to say, in his father's opinion, it was the best there!).

   The plane did fly (but only one flight).  We needed a more reliable engine
 because after a takeoff run of about 300 feet at the field it lifted off and
 I started the left hand turn when the engine decided to not run well.  That
 configuration needs all the power it can get and when the engine quit, the
 proverbial 'glides like a rock' came into play alone with the proverbial
 'slow speed stall with no recovery'.  I told Kyle I would help him rebuild
 it and we'd try again but he was happy that he had completed it for the band
 show and didn't want to take the time to rebuild it - too many other
 projects on the back burner.

   If he ever built another one he would do three things differently: 1) Use a
 newer, possibly more reliable engine, 2) make sure the significant amount of
 nose weight did not come loose (which it did and not on the crash), and 3)
 spend the 10 bucks and install a pump because of the distance that the fuel
 must be drawn from a pusher engine (we think that is why the engine stalled
 out at the most inopportune time).  Oh, and the fourth thing: let someone
 other than Dad attempt the maiden flight - too much emotional involvement!
 But he learned from it and he was glad he built it.  It's too bad the
 picture didn't make it into the magazine earlier because when it did it sort
 of coincided with the real Columbia crash.  I guess we have to consider the
 creation of that model as an homage to the brave astronauts that died in

 that disaster and be glad that it was displayed (both in the show and the
 magazine) when it was.

   Dana