Fly Past

Since the dawn of human evolution, humankind has looked to the sky in awe, wonder and yearning. This desire to take to the sky and soar like a bird pushed and tempted humankind for centuries. In the early years of the twentieth century, two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, achieved that dream. In one short century, we have gone from the few airborne seconds at Kitty Hawk to space shuttles that travel and remain in orbit for years at a time. Fly Past chronicles this miraculous journey from wooden and muslin planes hovering tenuously over the ground to the sleek sophisticated state-of-the-art air and space craft. Fly Past would be useful for classes on American History and Culture, World History, Aviation History and Science and Technology. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

OBJECTIVES:

Students will learn the history of aviation from the early flights at Kitty Hawk to the space shuttle. They will explore the evolution of flight and aviation technology and the human desire for flight.

NATIONAL HISTORY STANDARDS:

Fly Past fulfills the following National Standards for History for grades 5-12: Chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, historical research capabilities, historical issues-analysis and decision-making for Eras 7-10.

The Cutting Edge

This episode of Fly Past explores the future and state-of–the-art technology of unmanned aircraft.

• Autonomously
• Capitulate
• Decoy
• Deploy
• Drone
• Emulate
• Hypersonic
• Immune
• Impunity
• Initiate
• Reconnaissance

Discussion Questions

1. Computer piloted planes, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are the planes of the future. What are the advantages of UAVs?

2. What are some of the disadvantages of UAVs?

3. Early designs and prototypes were products of the “golden age” of aircraft design. What was the “golden age” of legendary design?

4. What are X planes?

5. What is the current “cutting edge” of aviation technology?

6. What is the most important part in controlling a battle? How do UAVs help in this area?

7. How are UAVs “piloted?”

8. In the 1960s, the US government sponsored the Red Wagon and Big Safari programs. What were these programs? What was the significance of the programs?

9. What is the ultimate UAV?

10. Discuss the unique capabilities of the Global Hawk.

11. What are micro aerial vehicles? What will their benefit be?

12. What are UCAVs?

13. How will future wars be “computer wars?”

14. What is eternal flight? Why does solar power offer the promise of eternal flight?

15. Solar powered planes have very large wing spans. Why?

16. What is stealth technology?

Extended Activities

1. Some people argue that the computer has taken over the world and we are losing our humanity in that machines now seem to be the source of many jobs and professions. Moderate a class discussion in which the ethics of computer technology, including UAVs, in the military are debated.

2. Design a MAV for military use and rescue work.

Related Videos

• 

Air Dates

• May 08, 2003
• December 18, 2003