New For 2008
It’s hard to find
a working, astronaut, engineer, or pilot who did not build models in their
formative years. Carefully cutting and shaping wood and paper into flying
machines develops many skills that are useful for a lifetime. The Wright
brothers, both bicycle makers, developed into the first aeronautical engineers
and pilots through their own trial and error building and flying experiments.
Busily at work in room 40 during 4th period, the students at Orville Wright “Skunk Works” are also building and testing airplanes that they build and fly. These students have all completed the first levels of the schools pilot simulator training (level 1-4), so they already understand quite a bit about piloting an aircraft. The aero engineering program expands upon this pilot knowledge further by letting students explore the principles of aircraft design and performance. Hands on experience building an aircraft is a very effective way of learning about the planes they pilot on simulators. They explore what each part does and it’s effect on flight. After building the models, sometimes 3 or 4 times, they test fly them on the school courtyard under the watchful eye of Orville and Wilbur Wright painted on the mural behind them. Notes are taken on the performance of the planes and hopefully, the next one flies better. Students learn the connection between building skills and airplane performance. However, in all fairness to these young engineers, sometimes the planes that are not built well, fly very well … but not for long.
The students have thus far built and flown three different aircraft designs, 1 glider and 2 powered planes. Each design has been increasingly challenging to build. Math and science skills are used in the process of building and testing the planes. Students learn the discipline of reading instructions and carrying them out. Plans are laid out and parts are cut to size. Rulers and protractors are used to measure parts and determine proper angles. Using basic geometry, the students can determine wing area and total material usage.
In their latest project, the students are building a wood frame and tissue airplane called the “Javelin”. This type of frame construction is still used on many modern aircraft. Modern, quick drying glues and hardeners make for faster construction. Students are graded on their building techniques and must develop a careful and methodical approach to a complex task. Parts must be assembled in the proper sequence or the students find they must disassemble them and start again. Students are paired up into engineering teams to build the plane together, each one performing their appointed task. This gets students organizing themselves and develops the ability to work with others.
Test flights are always fun and amazing. Students see the results of the building process in action and experience a type of fulfillment one only experiences upon accomplishing a difficult task successfully. Class time passes quickly as the students concentrate intently on their project. This develops their ability to concentrate in other areas of their scholastic life. They become, with each mistake they make, more careful, more skillful, more creative and more analytical.
While the program is still in its early stages, results are promising. These young engineers seem to be having a good time creating their flying machines. We hope Orville would be proud and pleased with his “students” following in his footsteps at the school that bears his name.
Aero Engineering Photo Galleries
Plans and materials from the first kit the students built
Flight Test Performance Data Form
Flight Sim Pilot Home Page Photo Gallery Orville Wright Middle School