Scouts are encouraged, but not required, to build their own flying or display model aircraft and bring it to Scouts To The skies. Building a model can be a patrol, den or individual project. Some of the flying models will be flown inside Hangar 1, others will be flown outside. Some ideas for models can be found on the Scouts To the Skies Aviation Resources web pages.

Standard model flying safety rules will be followed at ALL model flying stations. All model fliers will be required to be familiar with the safety rules before flying any aircraft.
 
2003 Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code (pdf 45 kb)
 
(alternate site) 2003 Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code (pdf 126 kb)

Model airplane building covers a wide variety of ability levels and Scouts and parents should be aware that some projects may be too advanced for a particular Scout. No restrictions as to simplicity or complexity will be imposed. The organizers intend to have some very simple, very inexpensive model kits suitable for different ages, including Tiger Cubs, available for purchase at the Refreshment area. Most Scouts will probably purchase a kit, some may purchase plans to build a model, others may create their own plans. Scouts are encouraged to make models of well-known aircraft, either historical or fictional. Extra credit will be given to Scouts who build models of Wright Brothers era aircraft.

Some airplane kits are easy to assemble, but others can be extremely difficult. Most display model kits stress accurate reproduction and some require many hours of painstaking assembly while some flying model kits only require the addition of batteries. Before purchasing a kit, make sure you know what level of ability will be needed to assemble it. Similarly, if you are building a flying model, make sure you know what level of ability will be needed to fly it. Usually flying an authentic reproduction of a Wright Brothers era aircraft is much more difficult than flying an authentic reproduction of a modern aircraft. None of these observations are intended to discourage truly experienced model builders from taking on challenging projects for this event.

It is intended that when construction of a model is involved, Scouts will do all the work, but in the interest of safety, it will be acceptable if Scouts do the vast majority of the work with some adult help. Models brought to this event as invited demonstrations by expert builders and flyers need not have any youth input.

1.0. Indoor Stations
   1.1. Display-only -- all types.
   1.2. Flying gliders -- paper only (a.k.a. paper airplanes).
   ;1.3. Flying gliders -- other than paper.
   1.4. Flying fixed-wing, rubber-band-powered.
   1.5. Flying lighter-than-air (helium-only), electric-powered, radio-controlled.

2.0. Outdoor Stations
   2.1. Flying gliders -- other than paper -- flown as kites.*
   2.2. Flying fixed-wing, electric-powered, radio-controlled. (display only -- see note at top)
   2.3. Flying fixed-wing, fuel-powered, radio-controlled. (display only -- see note at top)
   2.4. Flying fixed-wing, fuel-powered, control-line.

* This exactly what the Wright Brothers did in their preliminary tests at Kitty Hawk. Traditional kites are not applicable to this station. See Gliders Flown As Kites for some suggested plans. Other Wright Kite and Glider kits and plans can be found in Aviation Resources. Human riders will ONLY be allowed on gliders for photo opportunities when NOT in actual flight.