The Big Kite and Aeroplane Club

For many years some students at Albany High have built and flown large one or two person kites. The big Kite and Aeroplane club was founded by David Mitchell, Pete Peterson, and Leslie Ruh somewhere back in the late 50's or early 60's. We think that David Mitchell might have graduated in 1959. Few can forget the first historic AHS flight of a two person kite that took place on a windy Friday March 4th, 1958 on the field behind the high school. Our school surgen Dr. Richard Godfrey checked the boys over and gave them thumbs up! The band was playing the Cougar fight song as Les Ruh and Pete Peterson lifted off. At an estimated altitude of 800 feet the line parted and Pete and Les started toward the El Cerrito hills at a high rate of speed gaining altitude all the time. Les's father ran for his automobile, and started out in the direction of of their flight path. They cleared the hills east of El Cerrito by hundreds of feet. Mr. Ruh gave up the chase at Tilden park and returned shaking his head told everyone that there was no reason to worry because the kite had been constructed of the finest materials. We all went home quite sad because what was just to be a short test flight to several hundred feet turned out to be a disaster when the line parted. Well it turns out that the winds were just right for a quick trip across the U.S. Pete and Les picked up the jet stream and landed in Ameory Wisc. some 5 hours later. Both families were relieved that the adventure had come to a positive end with the boys none the worse for their adventure. I believe that Pete suffered some frostbite on his fingers, and of course they were both hungry and tired. They were back in school shortly after that, and you can believe that greater percautions were taken on subsiquent flights from the school.

The current members of the Big Kite and Aeroplane Club are buildig a 3/4 flying scale model of the SR-71 in the shop area. It is such a beautiful airplane. According to Igor, our Club President, the plane will be using ducted fan power instead of jet engines. Igor will be attending ground school this summer at the Albany Adult Education School. He will be getting his pilot's certificate as soon as he passes all the required tests and courses.

Good luck to Igor and members of the Big Kite and Aeorplane Club.

Click below for more information on kites and airplanes.

Kites

(Much Kite Info)

(Large kite research (able to carry a person))

(Click here for kite aerial photography

Airplanes

Click below to see pictures and get information on the SR-71

(SR-71 Pictures etc.)

(Still more SR-71 information)

(More more facts about the SR-71)

(A Wealth of Information on Aiplanes and aviation)

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