Boys and girls in west San Jose are discovering the joy of watching airplanes that they have built with their own hands soar into the air for spectacular flights. Since 1998, classes in model airplane design and construction have been held at Moreland-West San Jose Community Center and at Miller Middle School. The classes are taught by retired engineers and technicians from NASA, Lockheed and the City of San Jose. These experts provide insight into how airplanes must be designed to fly successfully while they instruct students on how to build the light-weight, rubber-band-powered planes. The classes are aimed at beginners, but students progress rapidly to more advanced airplanes. Graduates of the classes have competed in national contests, and their airplanes have achieved durations in excess of 30 minutes in large hangars and field houses. Advanced students are also encouraged to compete for places on the US National Junior Indoor Team to challenge youth teams from all over the world at international contests.

The program emphasizes very light airplanes that can only be flown indoors to keep them from being destroyed by even gentle breezes. The airplanes fly very slowly – some seem to float in the air. The slow flight speed and light weight but strong balsa wood construction allows them to fly into obstructions or crash to the floor without damage. They can be retrieved from high obstructions without damage, but if an airplane does sustain some breakage, repair is generally easy and the airplane will be flying again in a short time. Some builders are attracted to outdoor airplanes and they are encouraged to learn to build sturdy airplanes that can soar in thermal currents outdoors. However, opportunities to fly free-flying airplanes out-of-doors are limited by weather and the availability of large open fields. Flyers interested in radio-controlled planes are referred to the local hobby shops.

Classes at Moreland are open to any one 10 years old or older, but the Miller class is only open to students at Miller. The Moreland classes are by arrangement with Lou Young.  The cost is $10 per 2-hour session. 

Flying sessions at Moreland are open to anyone of any age who is interested in airplanes. Spectators and students in Moreland classes are welcome at no charge; flyers 19 or older pay $6 and under 19 pay $3. Flying is held on Sunday evenings except City holidays from 4 PM to 6 PM.

Several participants in the model airplane program have chosen airplanes as the test subject of science fair entries. Anjaney Kottapalli last year won the Intel California Science Fair and subsequently won second place in the engineering division at the national competition with his investigation of propulsion by flapping wings. The model airplane program is effective in sparking interest in science and engineering because it gives the young people an opportunity to actually apply the math and science they learn in school courses in a fun activity.