This year's raffle fundraiser will be different than ever before. Our Carbon Cub FX3 is an experimental, amateur-built aircraft, which means the FAA requires us to build at least 51% of it. To further our mission, we've enlisted the help of local, up-and-coming aviation professionals and well-respected educators. Alaska Airlines has generously sponsored the airfare for these mechanics, fabricators, pilots, and teachers, allowing them to travel free-of-charge to Yakima, Washington to participate in the project and learn the intricacies of aircraft production from CubCrafters' experts.
When the Carbon Cub is complete, our team will fly it to Alaska, where we will use it to educate students about local aviation careers.
Phase 1: Fabricating and Manufacturing Parts
Adam Wood
East High School
Anchorage School District
The aviation industry supports so many more jobs than what one might notice on a commercial flight. Exposing students to viable pathways in aerospace manufacturing will help them connect the dots between the skills they learn in class and careers beyond high school. Being a part of this project will allow me to be more effective as an advocate for skilled manufacturing.
Domenic Giunta
Founder, IDIYA
Domenic Giunta moved to Alaska as part of an advanced manufacturing program within the Anchorage School District and works as an equipment consultant and trainer for the district. He is an active member of the maker community with a background in carpentry, construction, and auto repair. His passions include auto restoration and aviation and he is currently working towards his private pilot’s license. Domenic can be found in communities across the state as he trains teacher in digital fabrication including CNC milling, laser cutting, 3D printing, CAD design and more.
Learn more at www.idiyalabs.com
Tim Rogers
King Tech High School
Anchorage School District
Tim teaches courses that introduce students to the world of aircraft maintenance. Tim is looking forward to learning how CubCrafters produces their aircraft in cooperation with the builder. He hopes to incorporate aspects of what he learns into his course curriculums back home in Alaska.
Phase 2: Aircraft Assembly
Aras Sirvelis
Alaska Airmen's Association Scholarship Recipient
I started flying remote-controlled Super Cubs as a 12-year-old and watching real Cubs fly over my home near Merrill Field. By 16, I knew I wanted to fly the real thing. I enrolled in the King Career Center’s aviation classes during my junior and senior years in high school along with spending summers working at Rust’s Flying Services as a dock hand. I knew that I loved aviation and with the financial help of my family I began my private pilot lessons. My goal was to get my license by 1, and I pulled it off!
Once again with the help of family members, we decided that it made more sense to buy Cessna 150 to use to build my hours toward a commercial license. Doing the math, it made sense at the time, but once I had that 150 in hand, the mechanical problems started showing up (as they always do). I’d taken the plane to Pratt Aviation to fix the exhaust and some other issues. John Pratt let me watch and help his mechanic. I was hooked. Not only did I want to fly, I wanted to fix my own plane. As fortune would have it, John hired me as an apprentice during my last semester of high school.
It was a perfect introduction to starting UAA’s aviation maintenance program. Apprenticing at John’s was an amazing opportunity. I was given excellent guidance by the mechanics, as well as a good deal of responsibility. I loved the work. I also continued to fly and work on my Cessna. I made numerous trips around Alaska. I realized that I wanted to fly and build planes.
My current plan is to finish my A&P certificate, and start working towards my IA. Alongside the maintenance, I hope to finish up my instrument and commercial certificates in the near future.
Zach Kinberg
Alaska Airmen's Association Scholarship Recipient
Getting into Aviation has been a lifelong goal of mine. I grew up on the Space Coast watching shuttle and rocket launches and was perpetually amazed at the power of flight. I don't come from an aviation background or an aviation family and getting into this field has always seemed just slightly out of reach. What inspired me to finally get off the ground was moving to Alaska and experiencing all of the creative and useful ways that Aircraft are turned into essential tools and entertaining investments. I think what I love most about it is the adventurous spirit of Alaskan Aviation.
October 1st
- Raffle fundraiser begins. Tickets on-sale.
Phase 1: November 15th - 19th
Monday the 15th
- Cut and prepare carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other materials for wing bows, cowling, engine baffles, floorboard and more.
- Cut the fabric envelops for the wings, fuselage, landing gear, and tail feathers, along with the ballistic materials for the rear seat.
- Cut tubes, fabricate bushings on CNC lathes, and work with manual mills.
Tuesday the 16th
- Drill, bend, and compress various tubes.
- Produce leading- and trailing-edge ribs for the flaps and ailerons on the press.
Wednesday the 17th
- Form the instrument panel.
- Arrange tubing to be welded into the fuselage, stabilizers, elevators, and rudder.
- Prepare landing gear for welding.
Thursday the 18th
- Assemble the flaps and ailerons.
Friday the 19th
- Cut wiring for various electronics and avionics.
- Cut and crimp control cables, assemble wheels and tires, and trim the windshield.
Phase 2: February 28th - March 1st
- The Phase 2 build crew heads to Yakima to assemble the FX3.
- The FAA inspects the aircraft for airworthiness.
Each Ticket Funds GA in AK
The aircraft raffle is our biggest fundraiser. Each year, the Alaska Airmen's Association commissions the building (or re-building) of an airplane using a portion of the revenue from the prior year's raffle. We then sell enough tickets to cover the purchase of next year's plane plus the operational costs of the Association and its operations.
Basically, that means all the raffle revenue goes into funding next year's raffle plane and supporting the operational costs of each of our programs: the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering, NextGen, Scholarships, Fly-Ins, etc. Our staff are then able to advocate for our members, facilitate these programs, and maintain our facilities.
So, your ticket purchase (even just one) contributes concretely to the preservation of aviation in our state. In essence, you are donating to a cause and community you believe in and getting the chance to win an incredible aircraft or nine other awesome prizes!
Each Alaska Airmen's Association Raffle plane is a symbol of the solidarity and strength of Alaska's aviators. So, when you see one of our planes (even outside of Alaska), we hope you'll feel proud, knowing you acted to protect and perpetuate this way of life.
Thank you for your contribution.