The Barnsley team competing in the Red Bull Flugtag flying competition took advice from a school science club when designing their giant kestrel.
Paul Woodcock, of team 'Come on Kes', took designs for the Kes-themed glider to Holgate school, and spoke to the boffins of the after-school science club.
"They were really helpful" said Paul. "They gave us all sorts of advice about drag, and lift. We've used what they told us in building it."
The 'bird' is 24 feet wide from wing tip to wing tip, and about 18 feet long from 'beak to tail'.
It weighs 50 kg - about 110 pounds. It is made from about 95 per cent extruded polythene, a stiff but light-eight material. it also features some fibreglass and some aluminium.
The Red Bull Flugtag is held all over the world and involves people trying to fly off the end of a 30-foot platform and over water in home-made, man-powered flying machines.
They are hoping not just to win, but to smash all the records at the event at Leeds Roundhay Park on Sunday.
http://www.comeonkes.com
