One Week Wonder Project Began Monday, is Expected to be Finished Sunday

By Maria Morrison

It started innocently enough... Amid the call and response of “one week” and “wonder!“, a crowd looked on at the pieces of an Van’s RV-12iS lying on workbenches. On Monday morning at 08:00, EAA volunteers set out on an ambitious task: to complete the construction of a RV-12 kit by 14:30 on Sunday. Referred to as the “One Week Wonder,” the project will be completed by the roughly 100 volunteers with ranging experience, five experts leading the build teams, and the assistance of the general public.

The goal, according to EAA Homebuilt Community Manager Charlie Becker, is to get as many people involved in the kit building as possible. He projects that “thousands” of AirVenture attendees will be able to put work into the aircraft. This will be in the form of installing pulled (blind) rivets on the skin of the RV-12iS. Over the course of the week, Becker says there will be over 10,000 rivets to install. The fact that people of all ages and abilities can install a rivet quickly and safely was one of the main deciding factors when choosing which kit to build.

In order to help build the airplane, members of the public will first go to a learning station and be taught how to use the pop rivet tool. Once they can do so successfully, people are given a card they can present to those working on the actual aircraft pieces and start working. The countdown clock mounted in the tent ticks down constantly throughout the week as the crews and public work, and all are encouraged to come help construct the One Week Wonder!

FMI: www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-communities-and-interests/homebuilt-aircraft-and-homebuilt-aircraft-kits/2018-oww-vans-rv-12is