SkY Flight Project

SkY Flight (Skagit Youth Flight) is a chapter-sponsored project to introduce local high school students to what it takes to build and maintain aircraft. The goal is to make a flyable Cessna 150 out of two donor airplanes. The students will do most of the work, with assistance and supervision from members of Chapter 818 and some local A&P technicians.

SkY Flight meets every Thursday evening at 6 pm at the Skagit Regional Airport, hangar 300 on the south side of the field. From Highway 20, take Higgins Airport Way north, turn left at the sign for the Heritage Flight Museum, then look for the SkY Flight sign on the right. New students and parents are welcome–just show up to the next work session. Or you can contact Dan Holden (tail_wheel@hotmail.com) or Jay Findlay (jayfindlay@aol.com) for more info.

We need donations to help cover the costs of materials and services needed to make the airplane airworthy–things like engine parts, crankshaft inspections and a new prop. If you’d like to make a cash donation or have something we could sell for cash, please contact Dan Holden. Chapter 818 is a 501(c)(3) organization, so all contributions are tax deductible.

Penelope drilling a rivet
Mentor confers with Abella
Brandon takes a break in the fuselage
Pulling the wiring in
cramped quarters
Nathan continues to drill rivets
Austin adds the rivets to his name tag
Parts of the Cessna 150L fuselage will be sold, repurposed or recycled
Taking the O-200-A engine apart

Project Status Updates

  • Work Session October 24, 2024

    It was discovered that the engine mount had a small dent; therefore, it had to be removed. The voltage regulator and brake hoses were installed. The dimensions of a bolt needed for the wheels was determined using the parts catalog. The safety wire was simulated by one of our mentors.

  • Work Session October 10th and 17th, 2024

    The brake hardware was removed from the donor Cessna 150L in preparation for mounting the brakes. The snap ring tool was used to put the steering collar on the nose gear. Participants learned how to use the saw while cutting steel tubing. The following week work continued on the brakes which included cleaning the brake calipers, attaching the nose gear and removing and rebuilding the brake hoses.

     

  • Work Session October 4, 2024

     

    Cleaning parts

    There are more parts that need cleaning.

    New participants learning about accurate riveting while completing their name badges.

    Using the calipers to determine the size of rivets and using clamps.

    The upper half of the nose gear is taken apart for inspection

    Precision was needed when drilling into the seal before attaching the cowling.