High schoolers reaching for sky

Some people dream of seeing their name in lights.

But Karee Whitehead can't wait to they see hers in metallic vinyl on the side of an airplane — that she helped build herself.

"I think it will look nice when we get finished, and our names will be on it — it's so neat," the Granger High sophomore said.

Whitehead is part of a team of 18 students who are building a real-life, take-to-the-skies, four-passenger Velocity aircraft — an unusual project for students barely old enough to drive. Thursday, she and sophomore Mercedes Dennis worked to grind fiberglass edges on what will become the plane's front wheel skirt, while others prepared fiberglass cut-outs to carry fuel and wings.

Teacher Scott Lewis hopes to have the school project done by January 2007 but says work accomplished in summer school might inch up the target date.

"They're building something no one else has built. They've gone where no other students have gone before," said Lewis, a science teacher, auto machinist and wrestling coach at Granger. "That's the Olympics in education."

The project began last fall with the help of a $15,000 grant from the 100% For Kids Credit Union Education Foundation, $40,000 of Lewis' own money, and the teacher's dream of building an aircraft.

Lewis, who rebuilds old Ford Mustangs, worked to build partnerships with companies to donate or give discounts on coveralls and other materials. He secured a hangar through Salt Lake Community College's aviation department. He ordered a kit to create a Velocity aircraft, a model that goes 200 mph and soars at 12,000 feet.

He publicized the project at all Granite District high schools and captured the interest of 17 students from Granger and one from Olympus.

The students spend fourth-period class learning about physics, engineering and hands-on skills needed to build the craft, and were put to work in the hangar. They're working mainly with Styrofoam and fiberglass, and doing a lot of sanding.

But upholstery and auto body students soon will get involved. The art classes held a logo contest for the plane Lewis calls Excalibur. Lewis even wants the school band to jam at the aircraft's maiden voyage. Professionals, however, will do the "life or death" kind of stuff, like install the engine and pilot its first flight. Everyone involved will have their names on the craft.

"Think of the opportunities that could come out of this," foundation director Paula Julander said, watching the students work. "It's just wonderful. They're having a good time, and besides that, learning. "

The students say they are getting college credit for their work. Some are sensing a future career.

Granger junior Hieu Lam wants to become a pilot.

Olympus junior Wesley Teerlink wants to be an engineer, and maybe get a pilot's license, too.

Dennis, however, wants to be a veterinarian. She says she signed up for the class for the experience.

And it's a novel one that raises eyebrows of most people who hear she's building an airplane.

"Most people don't believe me."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com