A rather unusual classroom is taking shape in the hangar at Morehouse Memorial Airport.

Local youth aspiring to careers in aviation got the chance to learn more about the Bastrop Wings Aviation Group during its first orientation Thursday.

Airport manager Steve Litchfield, who has spearheaded the new chapter of the larger Build A Plane organization, greeted enthusiastic students and gave a tour of the soon-to-be learning facilities.

"It's going to be hands-on," Litchfield said. "We can learn step by step, by taking things apart and putting them back together as groups. There are definitely career avenues here."

According to Litchfield, opportunities abound in the field of aircraft mechanics because the majority of current technicians began their training during the Vietnam era and are now on the verge of retirement.

Numerous volunteers are lending their time and talents to the project. Trainees will benefit from the instruction of Robert Landrum, of Southland Aviation, and James White, of Bastrop Computers, who has offered lessons on computer operations to supplement the BAP instructional software. Norene Smith, regional dean of the Louisiana Technical College system, will serve as code enforcement officer and bookkeeper.

"We're going to put some structure to it," Litchfield said, "but it's going to be self-paced. We really want group members to run their own group. They do the work, they get the benefit."

Litchfield said Louisiana Aircrafts Co. of Baton Rouge has offered to donate parts and planes. Landrum has already donated manuals, halogen lights, and airplane tires. Litchfield welcomes any and all contributions.

"Anybody who wants to donate anything - from a spark plug to a whole airplane - we'll take it," Litchfield said

When asked why he was interested in an aviation career, 14-year-old Jeffrey Graves said, "I want to fly."

If the program is successful, he might do just that.

"At some point we'll have flyable planes," Litchfield predicted. "And then we'll seek legal advice about flight training."

For the time being, however, students will keep their feet on the ground. Three planes already reside on the Bastrop Wings "campus" - a Yankee Whipper, a Piper Cub, and a Cessna 10-3, for which the owners have granted permission for students to work on.

Like its parent organization, the Bastrop Wings Group will continue to operate as a non-profit venture.

"As we grow we'll probably need a part-time administrator, but right now the whole thing is volunteer-based. We'll do spreadsheets so people can see where their contributions are going. We want every penny to go to the youth," Litchfield said.