Through this series of three lessons, students will gain an understanding of the basics of flight. They will learn about the four forces of flight and practice their observation skills through a number of fun experiments. In addition,...

The purpose of this activity is for the students to draw a design for their own flying machine. They will apply their knowledge of aircraft design and the forces acting on them. The students will start with a brainstorming activity where...

Learn about Wiley Post, who made the first global solo flight in 1931.

The Earhart Project is an international group of scientists, historians, and other individuals who are investigating whether there is any truth behind the idea that Amelia Earhart and her flight navigator, Fred Noonan, might have been...

In this lesson plan students can make a flying wing and trouble-shoot until the wing glides smoothly.

Collection of digital resources gathered from public libraries, archives, and museums about early aviation. Learn more about key innovators and technologies from early flight experimentation and the invention of the hot air balloon to...

Orville Wright's account of his and his brother's first three airplane trial flights.

Here's the story of Amelia Earhart, her love of flying, and the mysterious end of her quest to be the first to fly around the world.

Understand the concept of drag and find out how it affects the movement of airplanes.

Explore flight and the science behind lift and wing shape by creating two paper airplanes - a monoplane glider and a ring-wing glider.

Everything that could possibly be known about Lindbergh is at this site: The flight, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the kidnapping, and more.

Site offers "general dimensions, specifications, weight characteristics, and man hours required to build the aircraft." Also gives individual thumbnail images "of the technical preparation of the airplane."

Information on the aerial aspect of the war on the Eastern Front during WWI. Includes links to lists of each country's flying 'aces.'

The purpose of this activity is to bring together the students' knowledge of engineering and airplanes and the creation of a glider model to determine how each modification affects the flight. The students will use a design procedure...

The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the relationship between the mass and the weight of an object. Students will study the properties of common materials and why airplanes use specific materials.

The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...

Interesting biographical information and fun facts about the Wright brothers' first flight.

A biographical site about the man responsible for designing the sleek Vega that carried pilots on record-setting flights and for designing planes with a stressed skin over an internal frame.

Biographical information on the Wright Brothers, including their childhoods, the Wright Cycle Shop, the world's first airplane, a chronology, and links to more information.

Learn about the changes that have occurred in commercial jet travel since 1958, when jet passenger service began in the United States.

September 11, 2001 was not a great day in air traffic control. As the morning progressed, four separate terror attacks unfolded in the skies, with hijackers using commercial aircraft as weapons. Perpetrators deliberately flew three of...

This concise site contains a brief history of Byrd's life along with an easy to read chronology of major events in his life.

Students revisit Bernoulli's Principle (Lesson 1 of the Airplanes unit) and learn how engineers use this principle to design airplane wings. Airplane wings create lift by changing the pressure of the air around it. This is the first of...

This activity explores the drag force on airplanes. The students will be introduced to the concept of conservation of energy and how it relates to drag. Students will explore the relationship between drag and the shape, speed and size of...