GIRLS from Stonar School, near Melksham are entering a Royal Aeronautical Society competition to design, build and fly a human powered aeroplane.

Head of Science, Rick Hodge, is overseeing the project. Mr Hodge is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, was an RAF fighter pilot and civilian flying instructor, and the station flight safety officer for Britain's largest fighter base.

Parents and friends who are aeronautical designers, test pilots and serving military personnel are also lending a hand.

Mr Hodge said: "May we kindly request your support? If you wish to join us in our challenge, whether by offering time, expertise, materials or funding, please contact one of the team members through me at r.hodge@stonarschool.com Public relations manager Fiona Mearns, 16, said: "This project will be particularly difficult for us, as power is a critical issue and physiologically, we girls have less of it. However, we do have the brainpower and teamwork to design a novel aircraft to overcome this problem.

"Success is not guaranteed, and the project is not without risk. That said, the likely consequences of crashing from 15 feet up and at about 12 mph are a bit less than equestrian competitions.

"Since Stonar is one of the premier equestrian schools in the country and winners of the Hickstead National Schools' Show Jumping competition three years out of the last four, we have the courage to take on this kind of challenge on a daily basis.

"The other main qualities required, as in any branch of aviation, will be honesty, pride in work, and teamwork and the Stonar school motto is 'sincerity, honour, service'."