West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School Technology Education offers students nine courses, covering everything from Basic Technical Drawing all the way up to Research and Development Engineering and Aerospace Science. The students also meet twice a week after school for various engineering club events.
Two years ago the Engineering Club and Aerospace Science class began hosting Fun Flys in the Gym. The first Fun Fly was a huge success and has continued support from many local clubs, including PWCRCF , NVRC, The Maxecuters, FARM, DCRC as well as many other local fliers and WP's Principle Cliff Hardison.
We have also been supported by West Potomac PTSA and have received donations from Chantilly Hobby Hanger. Everyone coming together for an event like this to support the Aerospace class and the Engineering Club is fantastic. Some individual attendees have made wonderful donations, such as planes, kits, planes and parts.
The Fun Fly's have been so successful we now have them twice a year and are looking at possibly doing a spring fly using the schools outdoor facilities.
Fliers are charged $5 for 6 hours of open flying in the gym and/or an outdoor lot. Spectators are free.
There is also a concession stand lead by PTSA president and volunteer Jane Quirk. We offer coffee, drinks, donuts, hot dogs, pizza, etc and some custom made mugs and tee-shirts with the WP fun fly logo.
We also encourage fliers to bring models for display in the lobby so people can see the full scope of model sizes, power plants and enjoy other peoples' models.
The Fun Fly is open to the community to help expose model aviation to the general public. The students run most of the Fun Fly which includes a kids table for making foam plate gliders.
The Fun Fly is open to Radio Control as well as Free Flight. It is nice to have this mix so that both hobbyists have a chance to see each others planes. The students have the opportunity to meet with experienced fliers and get some(lots of) help on their own models.
WP is always looking to improve and add to the Fun Fly. Recently discussed was the possibility of adding indoor pylon racing and an 'Introduction to RC models' seminar for spectators.
WPHS students are also the proud new owners of a laser cutter; in the near future WP students will have the ability to make laser cut kits!
West Potomac's next Fun Fly will be February 19th 2011, come join us!