|
Wright
Brothers' Invention Process
|
(1900 - 1905)
- Developed Test Pilot Skills
Besides being airplane designers, and test
engineers, the Wright Brothers were the first pilots of a
heavier than air, powered aircraft.
They developed their piloting
skills by making over 1000 flights on a series of
gliders
at Kitty Hawk between 1900 and 1902. At the time of
their first powered flight, the brothers were the most experienced
pilots in the world. From 1903 to 1905, they continued to perfect
their piloting skills on a series of powered
aircraft.
Today, NASA test pilots at the Dryden Flight
Research Center continue the pioneering work of the Wright Brothers.
| Legend
of Related Programs:: |
W |
Website |
| L |
Lesson
Plans/Materials |
| A |
Activity |
| V |
Webcasts/Video |
| C |
CD-ROM |
| S |
Simulation |
| Program |
Description |
Grade |
W |
L |
A |
V |
C |
S |
| Beginner's
Guide to Aeronautics |
Learn
about how airplanes fly, including the forces that lift
them off the ground, keep them in the air, and help them
land. |
K-12 |
x |
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Central
Operations of Resources for Education (CORE) |
CORE
is the world-wide distribution center of NASA-produced,
educational, multimedia materials. The public has access
to over 200 videocassettes, slides, and CD-ROMs chronicling
NASA's state-of-the-art research and technology. |
K-16 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
| Exploring
Aeronautics CD-ROM |
This
software provides interactive tutorials on the principles
of flight and aircraft design. A companion website gives
an introduction to and instructions on how to incorporate
these materials into math, science, technology, and geography
curricula. |
5-8 |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
| Mobile
Aeronautics Education Laboratory (MAEL) |
The
mobile state-of-the-art Aeronautics Education Laboratory
brings new technologies to partnership cities to excite
students about science and math. Visitors can experience
10 hands-on workstations that model real world aviation
chK-16enges like weather forecasting, flight design, airfoil
design, and flight controls. |
K-12 |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
| NASA
Connect |
NASA
Connect is an award winning series of instructional television
programs that are proven to capture the imagination of
elementary and middle school students. This program establishes
connections between NASA research and math, science, aeronautics,
and technology content taught in the classroom. |
5-8 |
x |
|
x |
x |
|
|
| NASA
Explores |
This
website features weekly educational activities and updates
on cutting edge research and development for elementary,
middle, and high school students. Each week two new articles
on aeronautics technology with lesson plans and adapted
activities are featured. |
K-12 |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| NASA
Quest |
Meet
the people of NASA and look over their shoulder as they
make NASA goals a reality. This website brings NASA personel
and scientists into the classroom via the internet. |
K-12 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spacelink |
This
website contains a search tool to discover a wealth of
NASA programs, research opportunities and educational
materials. |
K-12 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
| The
NASA Science Files |
The
Science Files are an educational television program designed
to enhance and enrich the teaching of math and science
in '3-5. This program deals with numerous topics related
to aviation, aerospace, science, technology, and math.
|
3-5 |
x |
|
x |
x |
|
|
| The
Wright Way |
Learn
about the development of the first manned, powered flight
from its conception through research and experimentation,
to success and beyond. This website features facts, lesson
plans, simulations, activities, and contains information
on how to participate in the Centennial of Flight Celebration.
|
K-12 |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
| Virtual
Skies |
This
interactive website, designed to teach decision making
and problem-solving skills, guides students through an
exploration of the world of aeronautics. Learn the principles
of flight, flight planning, see large wind tunnels in
operation, consider career options, and more. |
9-12 |
x |
|
x |
|
|
x |
|
Related Research Programs
| Physiological
and Psychological Stressors and Factors (PPSF) |
The PPSF
program is working to identify and avoid hazardous states
of alertness in airport personnel. NASA researches are
studying physiological and psychological factors like
fatigue, and circadian disruptions that effect alertness
and performance. The goal of this program is to minimize
the role that human-error plays in flight safety. |
| Terminal
Air Productivity (TAP) |
As today's
large commercial airplanes approach and land on runways,
their engines cause wake turbulence, which is potentially
harmful to aircraft attempting to land behind them. To
avoid the effects of wake turbulence airports demand mandatory
spacing between flight landings to allow the turbulence
to dissipate. The goal of the Terminal Air Productivity
Program is to increase the capacity of U.S. airports by
reducing the spacing requirements between aircraft approaching
an airport, by studying how wake turbulence is formed,
and how to avoid its harmful affects. Allowing for more
frequent landings, and creating precision onboard navigation
and communication systems will counteract the effects
of wake turbulence and make air travel safer and more
efficient. |
| Synthetic
Vision System (SVS) |
Limited
visibility is the single greatest contributing factor
in most worldwide aircraft accidents. NASA is developing
a new technology that would give pilots a clear look at
the skies at all times, despite weather conditions or
time of day. The Synthetic Vision System is a kind of
virtual reality modeling program for airplane cockpits,
in which the pilot gets a continuous computer-generated,
real-time picture of what is ahead. |
| Human
Automation Integration Research (HAIR) |
The Human
Automation Integration Research Branch is studying ways
to optimize interactions between automated systems and
humans. The goal of the program is to capitalize on the
skills and capabilities of experienced flight controllers
and pilots, while minimizing human error. |
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