Program Short Of Aircraft, But Not Interest

Build A Plane (BAP) needs your help. The non-profit organization that helps kids learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics by building real airplanes, is in need of aircraft donations.

As Aero-News recently spotlighted in our coverage of Lakeland 2007, Build A Plane works to place donated aircraft across the country into high schools that want to add aviation into their curriculum or groups who are willing to use aviation to enhance other educational objectives.

There are currently over 50 projects across the United States, plus others in India, the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Unfortunately, the number of schools requesting aircraft exceeds the number of aircraft donated by about a 3 to 1 margin.

"We desperately need airplanes!" representatives with BAP told Aero-News.

Build A Plane is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Aircraft donors receive receipts for their contributions and may take the fullest deduction the law allows. Any aircraft, or aircraft component is valuable to a high school program somewhere.

The success of Build A Plane has drawn support from a variety of general aviation industry leaders, including Cessna CEO Jack Pelton,;Burt Rutan, president and CEO of Scaled Composites; and Alan Klapmeier, president and CEO of Cirrus Design. Airshow champion Patty Wagstaff, CNN anchor Miles O’Brien, and EAA president Tom Poberezny have also joined Build A Plane’s advisory board.

In addition to offering schools real airplanes as aids to learning science, technology, engineering and math, Build A Plane also plans to offer a variety of aviation-themed curricula for high school students.

FMI: www.buildaplane.com