Topic outline
Flight - Extension Unit
The questions below are just a few you will seek answers to in this journey of all things flight!
* What was the first man made object to fly in 200 B.C?
* Who were the Montgolfier brothers?
* Why did the Hindenburg meet it's fiery end?
* What is a dirigible?
* Who is the bloke pictured on our $20 note?
Develop your scientific knowledge when learning about;
* The field of aerodynamics
* The forces acting on an aircraft
* Newton's Laws
Listen into an air traffic control tower, track planes in real time and investigate how a fatal plane crash on Mount Dandenong changed aviation laws of the time. Try your hand at writing an article for an aviation magazine, or a news report for our television studio.
Topic 1
The History of Flight
Task 1:
- Research the history of human flight
- Present a chronology in any format you wish, including a picture and a brief description of each entry
- Start with the earliest man made flying object and end it with the first recorded controlled, powered, sustained, heavier than air flight.
- Include at least the following (note these are not in chronological order)
- Abban Ibn Firnas
- Aspect Ratio
- Dirigibles
- First fixed wing, powered aircraft
- Frances Herbert Wenham
- Gliders
- Gustave Whitehead
- Henri Griffard
- Hydrogen Balloons
- Kites
- Lawrence Hargraves
- Leonardo Davinci
- Montgolfier Brothers
- Newtons Laws of Motion
- Samuel Pierpont Langley
- Sir George Cayley
- Worlds first wind tunnel
- Wright Brothers
Topic 2
The Wright Brothers
Task 2:
On December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, William and Orville Wright made aviation history. The U.S Smithsonian Institute described the event as "...the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustainable flight with a pilot aboard"
1. Watch the footage of this epic flight.
2. Make a model of the Wright Flyer, either using one of the attached templates or one you find on your own. (Hint: Toothpicks work really well as the stays between the two wings. MST has some printed onto card which is sturdier than paper)
Topic 3
Aerodynamics
Task 3:
Aerodynamics is the study of the motion of air, particularly as it interacts with a moving object.
1. Read the theory power point which details all the forces acting on a flying object, and introduces Newtons three laws of motion.
2. Complete Practical #1 - Air Pressure. This can be done at home as all the materials are simple household objects. (See your teacher if you need something) Fill in the practical sheet and hand it in.
Topic 4
Other Flying Objects
Task 4:
1. Read the theory power point on how all sorts of objects fly
2. Check out some truly amazing aircraft in the compilation power point
3. Complete Practical #2 - Helicopters. This can be done at home. Present your findings in formal practical report format.
Topic 5
Aviation Communication
Task 5:
1. Research and write down the the NATO Phonetic alphabet and learn it.
2. Complete the Air traffic control and Airport radar on line activities and hand in the worksheet.
Topic 6
Kyeema Air Disaster
Task 6:
Read through the story of the Kyeema tragedy. Produce either a newspaper story, an article to appear in an aviation magazine, or a Flight Crash Investigation style report on the disaster.
In any of the reports you have chosen, you need to include, a summary of what happened to the Kyeema, why it happened and the impacts it had on the aviation industry at the time.
Topic 7
Completion of Unit
On completion of all 7 tasks of this unit, your teacher will fill in a specific report and include it your report folder.