Nineteen students at Albany Senior High School built radio-controlled planes from scratch as part of the school’s Impact Projects programme. Working in small teams, they followed a design thinking framework — experimenting with wing design, load ratios, and aerodynamics at each stage.
Students practised flying skills using foam RC planes in the school gym and worked through the New Zealand Model Flying organisation’s Learn to Fly programme alongside their build work.
The project culminated in the Frankenplane Competition over the October school holidays. Teams were judged first on design and creative backstory, then flew a series of manoeuvres. Despite some weather delays and last-minute repairs, all teams got their aircraft in the air.
Teachers noted that students who had been quiet and reserved at the start of the project were showing genuine leadership and confidence by the end.