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Program Information

Career and Technical Education (CTE) students are restoring a historic airplane to flight status in an extensive multi-month project. In the first program, which started in 2019, two groups of high school students were involved (30 students total) in restoring a 1946 J-3 Piper Cub World War II aircraft. The restoration effort includes fabric recovering, rib and spar repairs, and wiring.

The school’s automotive shop students will paint the aircraft, bringing the aircraft back to its 1940s-era condition, with the addition of modern radio and gauges. The engine will be sent for complete overhaul through an authorized repair facility to ensure safety and flightworthiness. Through this process, students are learning aircraft flight and control principles, mechanical comprehension, teamwork, communication, collaboration, leadership, critical thinking. Throughout the restoration, STEM concepts are learned and reinforced.