Students at Granger High School have not only constructed the first student-built airplane in the state but also the best-looking aircraft, according to the school's aerospace technology teacher, Scott Lewis.

"I've always had a dream to build a plane, and I thought students would love to be involved in something like that," Lewis said.

Funded by a $15,000 grant from the 100 Percent for Kids Credit Union Education Foundation, Lewis was able to realize that dream last school year, leading students in the project to create a four-passenger aircraft.

This summer the school has enlisted experts who are installing the technical and electronic parts of the plane.

Lewis said the project included a number of students involved in physics, vocational technology, graphics and aerospace technology classes at the school, giving students a hands-on real-world glimpse of the kinds of things they could be doing once in the work force.

"The students really take pride in putting their work into something that is going to last — they know they are contributing to something," said Marcia Chalmers, the school's multimedia instructor.

Lewis said the plane itself came in a kit, purchased with money from the grant.

Then students on the building crew built the frame, fuel tank, rudders, elevators and control surfaces.

The interior crew worked on the inside of the plane and the paint crew, students in the school's collision repair class, worked specifically on sanding and painting the body of the aircraft.

Students in the school's advanced graphics courses created logos and graphics to put on the outside of the aircraft, which included the names of each student who worked on the project as well as the names of 16 sponsors.

"This is a way to get kids interested in science and vocational technology," Lewis said. "When they walk away from here they will have a vision of what they could do when they leave high school."

"We also want them to take away a work ethic, on-the-job training and get an idea of what it's like to work in the industry," he said.

Excalibur will take to the skies this September, and Lewis hopes to have a celebrity pilot like Ford, Cruise, Travolta, Chuck Yeager or Harrison Ford — all members of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Lewis said it's the first time any high school in the state — and as far as he knows, the country — has built a velocity aircraft.

After the initial flight, Lewis said, the plane will then be for sale or be available for use as a rental plane at the airport, and the profit would go back to the school.

The 100 Percent for Kids Credit Union Education Foundation has awarded more than $4 million dollars since its inception in 2002. All donations reach Utah classrooms; not one cent is spent on administrative costs. For more information visit www.100percentforkids.com.

---

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com