Friends of Farmington, a non-profit organization in Farmington, New Hampshire, recently raised more than $50,000 in partnership with the new Lilac Club Casino in Rochester, N.H., for a new student plane-building program at Farmington High School.
The Flying Tigers student plane-building program is a partnership between the Farmington School District, the non-profit Aviation Museum of N.H., and educational non-profit Tango Flight, which specializes in facilitating student plane-build projects.
The program will see Farmington High School students work alongside volunteer mentors from the community to build a kit-based two-seat all-metal RV-12iS aircraft.
Once it is finished, the plane will be sold on the open market, with the proceeds used to fund the next plane-build at Farmington High School. The program is designed to be financially self-sustaining, according to museum officials.
The museum is raising the $250,000 needed to establish the plane-building program, which is scheduled to start in September 2025 at Farmington High School.
Officials of the newly opened Lilac Club Casino said they’re delighted to support the Farmington Flying Tigers program.
“We’re proud to support the Friends of Farmington and the Aviation Museum of N.H. in their incredible work with the plane-building program at Farmington High School — a program that not only equips students with valuable technical skills but also inspires them to dream big and take flight with their ambitions,” said Eric Barbaro, Chief Operating Officer of Granite State Gaming & Hospitality.
“It’s deeply rewarding to see the funds raised at the Lilac Club Casino during Friends of Farmington’s charitable gaming days directly fuel such meaningful, hands-on learning. This is exactly the kind of impact we strive for through our charitable gaming partnerships.”
The Lilac Club Casino opened in March 2025.
Farmington’s Flying Tigers program is based on a successful student plane-building program the Aviation Museum started with the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology in 2019. Manchester students completed their first airplane in 2022 and are currently nearing completion of their second aircraft.
In September 2024, a second plane-build program was established at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, N.H.
In Farmington, school officials are currently selecting students to participate in the plane-building program and also recruiting volunteer adult mentors.
For more information about the Flying Tigers plane-building program go to the Aviation Museum’s website at AviationMuseumOfNH.org and click on the Education tab, or call Jeff Rapsis at 603-669-4820, ext. 401.
