- All about our ‘Flying Tigers’ student plane-building partnership at Farmington High School in Farmington, N.H.
Students in Farmington began construction of their first aircraft in September 2025.
The Aviation Museum raised $310,000 to launch the program. Once started, the program will be funded through the sale of finished aircraft on the open market.
But the Aviation Museum does have responsibility for annual program costs, which include replacing tools, reordering parts, consumables, staff time, and more. In general, the plane-build programs cost us about $40,000 a year to operate.
You can help by making a donation online below. For the latest build updates, scroll down. Thanks for your interest and support!
Student plane-building update
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026: Progress continues in ‘Flying Tigers’ workshop
Students in the ‘Flying Tigers’ plane-building program at Farmington (N.H.) High School are moving ahead mid-way through their first year assembling a two-seat Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, students were joined by about a dozen volunteer adult mentors and divided into four teams to work on separate systems, including the firewall, the stabilator (the all-moving horizontal stabilizer), and components of the center section assembly.
Next week brings February school vacation, but the ‘Flying Tigers’ will be back in the workshop on Monday, March 2. Below are photos of all the action! The plane-build project is a partnership of the Farmington School District with the Aviation Museum and non-profit Tango Flight.
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026: Extended play workshop session
High school student plane-building update: mid-term exam schedules sometimes result in large blocks of workshop time.
That’s the case today at Farmington (N.H.) High School, where the Flying Tigers have taken advantage of just such an opportunity.
Here’s an on-scene report from Carole Frankiewicz, a staffer who’s coordinating the project:
“There is a buzz in the plane build workshop this morning! Our midterm schedule allowed for a 3 hour build class today and we were lucky enough to have 8 mentors come in to support our students.
“Various plane parts are being worked on and the inventorying of the wing kit that was delivered this week is also underway. A special thank you to Nathaniel and the Aviation Museum for sending in some breakfast foods and drinks!”
Great news from Farmington, one of three N.H. high schools that have partnered with the Aviation Museum and Tango Flight in the plane-building program.
Thanks to Carole for all the photos, too, plus a few from Nathaniel MacDonald, our education director who acts as a mentor in all three plane-build workshops.
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025: An airplane you can eat?
At Farmington High School, the plane they’re building is made of aluminum. But it’s the holiday season, so why not build one made from…gingerbread?
That’s what Aviation Museum volunteers did, and the results were presented to Farmington High students and mentors during a brief holiday ceremony held Monday, Dec. 8 prior to the day’s workshop period.
The gingerbread biplane, decorated in Farmington ‘Flying Tiger’ colors, will lend a boost of holiday season inspiration to the workshop. (Many thanks to Christine Bates, our visitor services specialist, and the volunteers who helped her create this amazing edible flying machine!)
In addition, to thank students and mentors participating in the program, each was given an individual (and undecorated) set of custom-made cookies that can be assembled into their own gingerbread biplane.
More seriously, the school was presented with a limited edition lithograph of an aircraft belonging to the original Flying Tigers, a group of U.S. pilots who supported Chinese forces as they battled Japan prior to the U.S. entry to World War II.
The lithograph was signed by Robert L. Scott, famed pilot who flew with the Flying Tigers and who authored a best-selling book, ‘God Is My Co-Pilot.’
Students were also presented with two paperback copies of Scott’s book, each inscribed by the author. (The museum has a quantity of these books that were donated to us several years ago.)
Ray Chadwick, president of the museum’s board of directors, spoke to the gathering, thanking them for all their effort since the plane-build started this past September.
In return, Aviation Museum staffers received official ‘Flying Tiger’ neckties!
Below are images from the holiday party, plus later in the workshop. Thanks to Steve Heffelfinger for the photos!
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025: Farmington’s ‘Flying Tigers’ land at state Board of Education meeting
You know you’re doing something special when members of the state Board of Education invite you to make a presentation.
That’s what happened this month when a delegation from the Farmington School District traveled to Concord to speak about the high school’s ‘Flying Tigers’ plane-building program, which started this past September.
The ‘Flying Tigers’ plane-building program is a partnership between the school district, the non-profit Aviation Museum of N.H., and Tango Flight, a non-profit that facilitates student plane-building programs across the nation. (Last year, participants in the ‘Take Flight’ program at Lebanon High School also visited the board.)
Speaking to board members were Dr. Kimberly McGlinchy, Farmington’s curriculum director, and Paul Smith, the faculty member guiding the plane-build program.
Board members then heard from Gabriel Kozlowski and Lorelai Rutherford, both students in the ‘Flying Tigers’ plane-building program.
With Superintendent Giselle Pomeroy and several Farmington parents on hand, the presentation was well received.
Board members praised Farmington for pursuing innovative programs to provide students with opportunities to learn new skills and non-traditional ways. Board Chair Drew Cline specifically encouraged the program, saying it showed the possibilities of public schools collaborating with local business and non-profits.
Afterwards, pictures were taken in front of the life-sized stuffed moose that dominates the lobby of the state Education Department’s building. Congratulations to everyone in the Farmington ‘Flying Tigers’ program for their willingness to take the program beyond the workshop walls.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025: Founder of Van’s Aircraft Co. visits Flying Tigers workshop!
Dick VanGrunsven, sign in please! The legendary founder of the Van’s Aircraft Co. visited Farmington (N.H.) High School today, where he met with students, mentors, and faculty building a Van’s RV-12iS—an aircraft he designed. (His initials are the ‘RV’ in the plane’s name!)
VanGrunsven is in Granite State visiting all three high school plane-building workshops operating in partnership with the non-profit Aviation Museum of N.H. and Tango Flight.
After spending time with the Farmington “Flying Tigers” today, tomorrow he’ll visit the ‘Take Flight’ workshop at Lebanon High and the plane-building program at the Manchester School of Technology.
On Friday, Oct. 10, Mr. VanGrunsven will be the Guest of Honor at the Aviation Museum’s Annual Gala, where he’ll be interviewed by WMUR-TV’s Erin Fehlau as we raise funds to support the future of student plane-building in the Granite State.
Below, more photos from a memorable day in the workshop. Thanks to program coordinator Carole Frankiewicz for taking these terrific images of Mr. VanGrunsven’s visit.
Friday, Aug. 22, 2025: Volunteer mentors complete two-day training prior to plane-build start
When the 2025-26 school year begins at Farmington (N.H.) High School, students will begin building a Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS. But they won’t be alone.
Working with them will be a team of volunteer adult mentors—people from the community ready to put their own life experience to work helping students in the ‘Flying Tigers’ plane-build program.
To prepare, about 25 mentors attended a two-day training course run by Dan Weyant of Tango Flight, a non-profit that facilitates student plane-building projects around the country and a partner in the ‘Flying Tigers’ program.
Most of the mentors were planning to be involved with the Farmington plane-build, but several attended from the plane-building program at the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology, while at least one mentor trekked all the way from Lebanon, N.H. area, where students starting building an RV-12iS last September.
The training course, held on Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22, covered all the basics of how the plane-build program operates and what volunteer mentors do.
And to make it real, mentors worked together to build an RV-12iS vertical stabilizer—otherwise known as the aircraft’s tail. In fact, due to the number of mentors, actually TWO vertical stabilizers were built.
Enjoy scenes from the two-day program, from opening orientation to “graduation” photos, with mentors posing with their just-completed vertical stabilizers.
Day 1: Thursday, Aug. 21…
Day 2: Friday, Aug. 22, 2025…
Tuesday, May 20, 2025: Meet the Farmington (N.H.) High School Flying Tigers plane-building students
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.
Friday, April 25, 2025: ‘Friends of Farmington’ makes major donation to high school student plane-building project
Community non-profit raises $50,538.72 at Lilac Club Casino to support ‘Flying Tigers’ program at Farmington High School
FARMINGTON, N.H.— A local community group has made a major contribution to a planned student plane-building program at Farmington High School.
‘Friends of Farmington,’ a local non-profit organization, recently raised $50,538.72 in partnership with the new Lilac Club Casino in Rochester, N.H.
The funds were presented to Farmington High School’s ‘Flying Tigers’ student plane-build program at a school board meeting held Monday, April 21 at Farmington High School.
The ‘Flying Tigers’ student plane-building program is a partnership between the Farmington School District, the non-profit Aviation Museum of N.H., and educational non-profit Tango Flight, which specializes in facilitating student plane-build projects.
The Aviation Museum is currently raising a total of $250,000 needed to establish the plane-building program, which is scheduled to start in September 2025 at Farmington High School.
The program will see Farmington High School students work alongside volunteer mentors from the community to build a kit-based two-seat all-metal RV-12iS aircraft. The process is expected to take two school years to complete.
Once certified as airworthy, the aircraft is sold on the open market, with the proceeds used to fund the next plane-build at Farmington High School. The program is designed to be financially self-sustaining.
Officials of the newly opened Lilac Club Casino said they’re delighted to support the Farmington ‘Flying Tigers’ program.
“We’re proud to support the Friends of Farmington and the Aviation Museum of N.H. in their incredible work with the plane-building program at Farmington High School — a program that not only equips students with valuable technical skills but also inspires them to dream big and take flight with their ambitions”, said Eric Barbaro, Chief Operating Officer of Granite State Gaming & Hospitality.
“It’s deeply rewarding to see the funds raised at the Lilac Club Casino during Friends of Farmington’s charitable gaming days directly fuel such meaningful, hands-on learning. This is exactly the kind of impact we strive for through our charitable gaming partnerships.”
The Lilac Club Casino opened in March 2025.
Farmington’s ‘Flying Tigers’ program is based on a successful student plane-building program the Aviation Museum started with the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology in 2019. Manchester students completed their first airplane in 2022 and are currently nearing completion of their second aircraft.
In September 2024, a second plane-build program was established at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, N.H.
In Farmington, school officials are currently selecting students to participate in the plane-building program and also recruiting volunteer adult mentors.
The Aviation Museum of N.H., located at 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H., is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
For more information about the Flying Tigers plane-building program, and to donate, visit the Aviation Museum’s website at www.aviationmuseumofnh.org and click on the ‘Education’ tab, or call Jeff Rapsis at (603) 669-4820, ext. 401.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024: Visiting the plane-building workshop at the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology
If you’ve never built a plane before, it helps to spend some time with people who have. That’s the idea behind recent visits of Farmington (N.H.) High School faculty and administration to student plane-building workshops at Lebanon (N.H.) High School and the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology.
Farmington plans to start its ‘Flying Tigers’ high school student plane-building project in September 2025; as part of the planning, a delegation from the school visited the ‘Take Flight’ plane-building workshop in Lebanon and also the plane-building workshop in Manchester.
Both visits helped the Farmington team visualize how to set up their workshop, how a typical class is conducted, how students interact with volunteer mentors, and all the many other components that are part of this innovative hands-on program.
All three plane-building programs are partnerships between the school districts, the Aviation Museum, and Tango Flight, a non-profit that facilitates student plane-build programs across the country. When Farmington starts its project next year, we’ll have a total of 50 students building airplane in three separate high schools across the Granite State.
Stay tuned for updates as our plane-building program continues to spread its wings!
Monday, Aug. 26, 2024: Setting up plane-build display in Farmington High School lobby
It’s back to school for the Farmington High Tigers—soon to become the Flying Tigers!
When classes resume next week at Farmington (N.H.) High School, students will be greeted with a lobby display promoting the school’s new airplane-building program, set to launch one year from now in September 2025.
Once underway, Farmington will be only the third district in New Hampshire where high school students build real airplanes—in this case, a two-seat kit-based Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS—in partnership with the non-profit Aviation Museum of N.H. and Tango Flight. (The other schools are in Manchester, N.H. and Lebanon, N.H.)
In Farmington, this school year will be taken up with fundraising, setting up the workshop, establishing the curriculum, and more.
The actual plane-build will start next school year. As in Manchester and Lebanon, it will be a credit-earning course held during the school day; students will be guided in the workshop by faculty as well as volunteer mentors from the community.
In the current school year, interested students will be able to enroll in a new aviation course the school plans to offer starting in January. Stay tuned for more updates as the Farmington Tigers get their student plane-building program off the ground!
