For this project, Boy Scouts will study the history of flight throughout the world and how the modern-day airplane was eventually successful. Scouts will research different models of planes, reporting on what made them fail, how long they stayed in the air and the problems with the design, and compare those to the models that eventually succeeded. Scouts should use a display board to show pictures and list facts about each model and be able to give both an oral and written report about the early days of flight. This project is appropriate for older scouts.
Boy Scouts may enjoy making craft projects at meetings. Making a pioneer aircraft during the course of several meetings brings history and construction together. Divide the troop into small groups of one to three scouts and have an adult leader supervise each group. Purchase three pioneer model airplane kits from your local hobby store or the Internet and begin building the model airplanes as part of the regular meeting. Since there are many parts to constructing a model of this type, you will need a few meetings to complete the project. When the planes are complete, let each group tell the rest of the troupe about their planes and how they fit into the history of flight. At the completion of the project, donate the models to your local or school library for a display about pioneer planes.
Another way to focus a Boy Scout troop on pioneer planes is to plan a field trip to a place significant to flight or to an airplane museum. Air museums can be found around the country and each museum has several examples of the different types of early planes and the role they played in the advances in flight. With the field trip, assign each scout some questions to answer about what they discover or put together a scavenger hunt designed around your destination. When the troop returns from the trip, let each scout talk about what he learned from the experience and which planes he liked the best and why. Some historic sights to consider are Kitty Hawk in the outer banks of North Carolina where Wilbur and Orville Wright made their first flight and the Henry Ford History Attraction in Dearborn, Michigan, home to Orville and Wilbur Wright's bicycle shop and laboratory.
Boy Scouts learn from positive role models, and the men and women of early flight can teach them a great deal. Use this project as an opportunity for Boy Scouts to study the pioneers of flight, their work ethic and what finally made each of them successful. Men like Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart all made tremendous contributions to flight in their time. Have scouts read books and websites about these people and others and give a short oral report about the person they have chosen to talk about.