BSA Aviation Merit Badge

[MrCaptainFlash]

I am an Assistant Scoutmaster for our Boy-Scout troop. I was looking at merit badges that I could do with the boys and found out that I can have the boys build RC airplanes! I think this would be so much fun for them (and me).

I am thinking of doing the Tiny Trainers because they can be built as chuck gliders, and it also won't be too expensive. Our budget is VERY small, so we have to ask the boys to pay for there own materials on things like this just so we can pay for camp-outs throughout the year. later on if the one or boys really want to make them RC with me on there own they won't have to buy a whole new kit, I can just show them how to convert the ones they already built. What do you folks think about that?

Now to legitimately earn the merit badge they need a working RC plane to show them the control surfaces and teach them about aerodynamics. So to achieve this I will build a working FT Tiny Trainer.

I haven't been in this hobby for very long, at all, I have only built a Tiny Trainer myself and flown it into the ground. :black_eyed: I will be rebuilding it and hopefully get better at flying so I can show the boys. But I think this will be fun for everyone.

Wish me luck!

 

[makattack]

Nice! Yes, my RC Club was having the same discussion about a boy scouts troop wanting to qualify for their aviation badges this way. We talked about the 3-pack vs the tiny trainer. I personally advised for the Tiny Trainer based on what you said and the fact that we can at least fly the chuck glider indoors which logistically may be easier.

 

[MrCaptainFlash]

I personally advised for the Tiny Trainer based on what you said and the fact that we can at least fly the chuck glider indoors which logistically may be easier.

That was my thought as well.

 

[BridgeInspector]

Good Luck, this sounds like an awesome adventure.

 

[TexasTeacher]

Now to legitimately earn the merit badge they need a working RC plane to show them the control surfaces and teach them about aerodynamics. So to achieve this I will build a working FT Tiny Trainer.

Is this for the part that says they have to either fly an RC plane or build the foam plate one and fly them together?

If so i would just build the Tiny trainers as chuck gliders and do it that way

for demonstrating the control surfaces you could use the tiny trainer and make the surfaces movable but make them so you can lock them in place, maybe with paperclips? Then they set the surface, and give it a toss

 

[IFlyRCstuff]

They must understand all the control surfaces and how they affeect the aeroplane. It doesn't say they need to fly. However, building is required. (I should know, this was my first badge)

 

[MrCaptainFlash]

My plan is to show them how it works on mine... Maybe fly it... I might be able to set up a buddy box too. But I have never done that before so we will see.

 

[MrCaptainFlash]

Logistcaly I am unsure how we should go about building the planes. We only have about an hour a night. I also don't have the money to buy a bunch of speed build kits. I know it will take several nights to complete the project.

I am thinking about cutting out all the parts that we will need myself, and bring them too help speed the project along, but I also don't know if I have the time to do that... What do you folks think?

 

[makattack]

Maybe break them up into groups, and do a few group builds while providing individuals with pre-printed instructions that give them all the necessary information to download the plans, buy material, etc to do on their own?

 

[HarleyRev]

let them build it, they will enjoy it ! And learn more that way. I was a den leader when my boys were younger, it was great fun, I loved it.

 

[flyemhi]

I am a scoutmaster and we had them choose between the nutball and the ft flyer. I had some templates of both and they learned some scratch building skills and it took us about a month to complete. I swapped my power pod and we flew a couple but some were a little ruff around the edges and did not fly but they learned from it and so did I. I would stay away from the nutball the ft flyer is ok but this was before the tiny trainer. I would team them up and have them build it as a chuck glider. The more adult help you can involve the better. It was a great experience and for them to see their piece of foam fly was awsome.

 

[MrCaptainFlash]

I think I like the idea of just having them cut them out themselves. I think they will really get a lot out of it that way, and maybe go on to build more after we are done.

 

[MrCaptainFlash]

It was a great experience and for them to see their piece of foam fly was awsome.

That is exactly what I am trying to do!

 

[webbhm]

My 52 cents worth

I am interested in starting a flying group for kids, and had not been aware that there was a merit badge (even though my two sons are Eagle Scouts). I like the Tiny Trainer, and have the two powered versions; which are among my favorite planes. However, I think they are too expensive and complicated for starting.
To that end, I designed my 52 cent glider (half sheet foam board and two pennies for balancing). It has functional tail surfaces and teaches all the basic concepts. Would something like this satisfy the merit badge? This glider was a half hour hack to prove to myself that something simple could be done. It is basically a set of 2 inch strips and a 3 inch strip for the wing. The wingspan is 20 inches. A parent could easily pre-cut the material (so the kids don't have to be using utility knives).
If you can use this, I can pull together some "plans".