Pupils would have to use their imagination because the new piece of playground equipment was cemented to the ground, Grant Engineering designer Allan Grant said.
"This one certainly will not be taking to the air, but the kids may become airborne when they come down the slide or off the spin bars."
The little plane is a tribute to Bert Mercer, a pilot born in Caversham in 1886 who established Air Travel New Zealand - the nation's first licensed scheduled airline - in 1934.
Using his plywood and fabric de Havilland Fox Moth, he transported passengers and delivered mail on the West Coast.
In 1920, he and another pilot made the first flight to Mount Cook and in 1921 he came to national prominence with a new one-day distance record, flying from Timaru to Auckland.
Mr Grant said the plane at Caversham School was not an exact replica of Mr Mercer's de Havilland Fox Moth because it had to meet safety standards, while being innovative, durable and fun for the community.
"It's also significant that the length of the body of the plane is the same length as the wing span of a large albatross - that's a huge bird."
Caversham School principal Mike Darracott said it was not known if Mr Mercer was a former pupil at the school.
However, he was delighted with the installation because it gave his pupils "a great sense of history".
"It's great to have a tribute to a great man on our school grounds. The amount of fun they have on the plane will only be limited by the amount of imagination they have."
