Activity 1.1 – Researching Aerospace Vehicle History

Purpose

Can you imagine getting into an airplane and reaching a speed of Mach 3.5 (that’s 2,500 mph). That occurred on December 22, 1964 when the SR-71/RS-71 Blackbird airplane was first unveiled. Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the designer and president of the Skunk Works, had begun the project back in February, 1963with the intentof building a strategic reconnaissance aircraft. He succeeded and planes since then have reached even greater speeds because of the creativity and determination of designers to think “the impossible.” There are many such exciting adventures of innovative designs resulting in new aerospace vehicles. Who knows – maybe some day you will be the next Clarence Johnson.

Learning about the development of aerospace vehicles is an important first step in understanding about aeronautics and aerospace engineering.

Equipment/Resources

  • Internet access
  • Journal with sketch paper
  • Word Processing software (Optional)
  • Reference books
  • Library access
  • Local experts

Procedure

This activity is designed to give you the opportunity to explore how aerospace vehicles were developed. You and your team will research the vehicle you will construct and test fly in Project 1.2 Flying Aerospace Vehicles. The information you find in your research will help you in Project 1.3 – Aerospace Commercial: Designing the Future.

Note: Be sure you have been approved for Internet use and have signed the appropriate use agreement, if required.

With your teacher’s help, you will conduct an Internet search for background information on the aerospace vehicle you have chosenfor your commercial.

Note:Do not print the Internet pages without your teacher’s permission.

It is important for you to take notes in your engineer’s notebook on the important facts related to your research.

Use the following steps to help you collect your information:

  1. Complete the History of Winged Flight Mini WebQuest provided below.
  2. Choose a flight vehicle you would like to know more about. You may choose one of the following or choose a list provided by your Teacher:
  3. Kites
  4. Hot air balloons
  5. (Simulated) Helicopters
  6. Model Glider or Rubber band powered airplane
  7. Compressed air rocket
  1. The following questions will guide you in your search:

a.When was the aerospace vehicle invented?

b.Who invented it?

c.How was it to be used? Was it to carry people? Equipment?

d.Did it fly successfully? If so, how long did it take before it flew successfully?

e.What were some of the challenges the inventor faced while designing the vehicle?

  • Select the facts that would be best to use in the commercial you will make in Project 1.3 – Aerospace Commercial: Designing the Future.
  • Write the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address in your engineer’s notebook for the best web sites you find during your search.
  • “Bookmark” or include the best addresses as “favorites” in the web browser for future use.
  • Ask your teacher for advice on search terms and search engines if you cannot find the appropriate information.
  1. Research the difference between lighter than air and heavier than air vehicles. Use the following website to start your research:
  2. U.S. Centennial of Flight Overview of Lighter than Air (LTA) Overview – URL:

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Copyright 2006

GTT – FS Unit – Lesson 1 – Activity 1.1 – Researching Aerospace Vehicle History –Page 1

History of Winged Flight Mini WebQuest

You and your partner have been asked to find out about the history of winged flight. You will use the internet to research the history of winged flight and complete the questions.

The following websites may be useful in finding the information, but they are not the only websites that you may use. Make sure you record the website address (URL) with your answer to the question where you find your information.

Websites:

  • NASA: Search by topic or A-Z:
  • ScienceMuseum of London – Aircraft on Display:
  • First Flight – Wright Brothers’ Movie:
  • U. S. History of Flight Centennial:
  • AtlanticCanadaAviationMuseum:
  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics:
  • ALLSTAR – History of Aeronautics:

Flight Firsts

  1. Kites invented by the ______were the first devised that humans used to investigate flight.
  2. Source:
  1. In the 1480’s, this Italian made the first real study of flight ______.
  2. Source:
  1. These French brothers designed one of the first hot air balloons ______.
  2. Source:
  1. In 1891, this German designed a glider that would carry a human. ______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first powered flight was by these two brothers. ______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first powered flight happen on ______at ______, N.C.
  2. Source:
  1. The first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic was ______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first pilots to cross the Pacific Oceanwere ______.
  2. Sources:
  1. The first jet plane was made in this country: ______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first person to fly faster than the speed of sound was ______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first flight faster than the speed of sound was on ______(date) and the plane was called the ______.
  2. Source:
  1. This plane, built by Kelly Johnson and the Skunk Work and broke Mach 3 was called______.
  2. Source:
  1. The first pilot to fly a balloon around the world was ______.
  2. Source:

Flight Fun Facts:

  1. The term barnstorming comes from ______. Source:
  1. The “Skunk Works” is ______. Source:
  1. The “Red Baron” real name is ______and he was a German fighter pilot. Source:
  1. The first winged flight into space and back was ______.Source:
  1. The father of the modern helicopter was ______. Source:
  1. The “Spruce Goose” was ______. Source:
  1. The highest recorded altitude a parachute has been used was ______. Source:
  1. Fastest flight by a man without an aircraft was completed by ______at the speed of ______. Source:
  1. WASP stands for ______. Source:
  1. Snoopy flies what type of plane? ______. Source:
  1. The name of Charles Lindberg’s plane was ______. Source:
  1. TheUnited States first high altitude spy plane was called ______. Source:
  1. A plane that can start with a vertical liftoff and then switch to level flight is called ______. Source:
  1. What is the world’s busiest passenger airport? ______. Source:
  1. List two fun facts that your thought was interesting during your web search.

a.______

b.______

Go back to Step 2 to completethe activity.

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Copyright 2006

GTT – FS Unit – Lesson 1 – Activity 1.1 – Researching Aerospace Vehicle History –Page 1

Conclusion

  1. What were the most surprising facts about the aerospace vehicle you researched?
  1. When your aerospace vehicle was designed, what was known about flight?
  1. What is the difference between lighter than air and heavier than air vehicles?
  1. How did you refine your search terms to narrow your search to the exact information you needed? Describe.
  1. What were the different search engines or other resources that you used or could haveused during your research? List at least three of them.

Project Lead The Way®

Copyright 2006

GTT – FS Unit – Lesson 1 – Activity 1.1 – Researching Aerospace Vehicle History –Page 1