A Warren County Technical School student has built a drone plane that can fly up to 20 miles by remote control at speeds of 40 to 60 mph.

Dan Werbin, 17, began construction on the craft about a year ago as a sophomore.

The plane has a fixed digital camera on its nose that can relay video and other data to the school's computers. Werbin's instructor, John Metroke, called the effort "one of the most complex" he has seen at the school in his 13 years there.

A strong northwest wind whipped across the outfield of a Warren Tech baseball field as Werbin booted up a receiver and Dell laptop to monitor the plane's data. The video feed was not transmitting to the computer, much to Werbin's frustration.

As the former chief engineer for a High Bridge-based electronics company, Metroke said, he looked for recruits that knew how to learn from obstacles.

About 10:30 a.m., the video feed went online -- Werbin just needed to restart the VLC media player -- and it was time for the plane's third flight.

Metroke ran with the plane like a javelin as Werbin switched on the plane's propeller. The teacher accidentally threw the plane at a downward angle.

The plane grazed the grass for a millisecond before rocketing 300 feet into the air.

Werbin maneuvered the plane through heavy wind using the plane's aerilons, or wing flaps, as the aircraft flew over Warren Tech.

After a few minutes, Werbin brought the plane in for an expert landing in the outfield.

Metroke said the plane cost $1,000 to $1,500 to build.

A second flight about 11 a.m. did not go as smoothly. A strong gust of wind sent the plane off its course and caused it to crash into a tree on Warren County Community College's campus. Werbin vowed to rebuild the badly damaged plane with a stronger frame.

Last month, the plane's plastic foam wings blew off of the body because it was traveling so fast.

The aircraft fell 500 feet but stayed mostly intact. Werbin then reinforced the wings with hunting arrows.

Superintendent Robert Glowacky said he was amazed with the imagination and capability of the project.

Werbin hopes to program flight plans in the plane through Google Earth, attach a movable camera and fly the plane through a cloud.

Werbin and Metroke said the plane, which hypothetically could travel to Phillipsburg and back, need not worry unsuspecting residents.