Camelot Knight Flyers

Written by Moses Alicea and Jay Smith. As featured on page 52 in the April 2012 issue. Read the excerpts and online exclusive content. Starting school clubs might be easier than you think. The Camelot Knight Flyers, at Camelot Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, is a great example of a parent-and-teacher partnership where the students benefit and are introduced to modeling in a positive way. This award-winning club, made up of fourth and fifth grade students, is sponsored by Camelot Elementary science lab teacher, Richard Ellenburg, and longtime modeler and pilot, Moses Alicea.

Florida's teacher of the year, Richard writes in his blog http://2008fltoy.blogspot.com/, "For the past two years we have placed renewed emphasis on the concept of flight. To enhance the experience we created the Camelot Flyers. Aeronautics Clubs open to our fourth and fifth graders. Under the direction of myself and an incredible parent volunteer [Moses Alicea (who is an expert RC pilot)], our students have learned how to build and fly a variety of radio controlled airplanes. We work with balsa or styrofoam to create electic motor trainers,gliders, and "slow stick airplanes". Through grants and donations we currently have three flight simulators, eight planes with at least 36 or greater wing spans and four radio transmitters."

Students are building a balsa glider capable of carrying a GI Joe action figure. The gliders are to be powered with rubber bands. (photo from Richard's blog http://2008fltoy.blogspot.com/)

This is a nicely decorated photo of the winning glider.

As part of the test for a “pilot license,” students must correctly identify the parts of an airplane.

Students utilize donated magazines as part of their research to learn more about aeromodeling.

RealFlight Basic is used for flight training. Students demonstrate their proficiency by performing a takeoff, circling the field, and landing a basic model two times in a row.