The students at Athenian School are really spreading their wings.
The “Spirit of the Athenian,” an aircraft built by Athenian Middle and Upper School students, will take off tomorrow from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord. The scheduled flight time is 10 a.m., and the plane will be in the air for approximately 20 minutes.
The project was the brainchild of Marsh Freeman, a Diablo resident and member of the school’s board of trustees.
“Marsh, the man behind all this, approached the Athenian about funding the project. It’s always been a passion of his,” said Mandi Semple, the school’s alumni and public relations coordinator.
“Building airplanes has been a hobby of mine for over 20 years,” said Freeman. “When I retired, I looked for an opportunity to do that and work with kids, so I just put one and one together and came up with the idea.”
The school welcomed the proposal with open arms.
“Athenian is thrilled to have such an opportunity and cannot thank our benefactor enough … for funding this unique learning experience,” said Bruce Hamren, a science teacher in the Upper School.
Construction on the aircraft began in March 2003 when a total of 88 students volunteered their own time to work on the project. They operated under the guidance of Freeman and four other technical experts, all of whom worked without compensation.
It wasn’t easy to find all of the correct parts, said Freeman. While the students relied on the company Wag-Arrow as their primary supplier, they also had to order parts from supply houses all across the country.
The entire project took nearly two-and-a-half years to complete. The airplane is a Piper Cub, approximately 22 feet long with a wingspan of 36 feet. Originally designed in 1934, the Piper Cub is a private two-person aircraft.
The most innovative feature of the aircraft is its engine.
“The engine was a run-out, which means that it was in another airplane before. We bought that and the kids took it apart,” said Freeman.
Last Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the airplane for flight. An inspector who acted on behalf of the FAA certified the aircraft as “flight worthy.”
“The DAR (Designated Airworthiness Representative) looked at the plane and was convinced that it was well done. I believe that this was the first student, homebuilt airplane ever to be approved in the Western Division,” said Freeman. “It helped that all five of us who mentored were experienced though.”
The plane will be flown by Jim Manley, a retired dentist. Manley, who used to fly for the Navy, has over 30 years of aviation experience.
Aviation rules prohibit passengers from flying for the first 25 hours.
The school is planning to auction off the plane in March. Proceeds will go to buy parts for the next airplane project that the school takes on. The Athenian hopes to “institutionalize this valuable program so that it can exist independently of the extraordinary philanthropic support of Marsh,” according to a press release.
Freeman hopes this goal can become a reality.
“I think that it’s been a good experience for the kids at the Athenian, and I hope that it goes on,” said Freeman. “It’s certainly been an enjoyable one for all of the mentors.”
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