They came, they ate pizza, and checked out the Elite Flight Simulator.
They were the 12 students at Farmington (N.H.) High School selected to participate in the first year of the new plane-building program starting in September 2025.
The students—a mix of sophomores, junior, and seniors—were recently chosen to join in a program that will see them build a two-seat Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS.
They do it with the help of faculty members, plus a group of volunteer mentors who will work alongside them as the airplane takes shape.
When completed in about two years, the RV-12iS will be sold on the open market, with the proceeds used to fund the next aircraft build—all at no direct cost to local taxpayers.
To help prepare for the programs, students and faculty from Farmington High arranged for a field trip on Tuesday, May 20 that saw them visit the ‘Take Flight’ plane-building workshop in Lebanon, N.H. and then the Aviation Museum, which is located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
While at the Aviation Museum, students enjoyed a pizza lunch and got to try out the museum’s Elite Flight Simulator, with docent Jim Schou guiding them through the experience.
For more info about the ‘Flying Tigers Roar to Soar’ plane-building program, visit our Farmington High School Flying Tigers page.
Inspiring the next generation of aviators! The Flying Tigers program is a fantastic blend of hands-on learning and community collaboration. Excited to see these students take flight in their futures.