You can celebrate 100 years of aeronautic history by building a model of the 1903 Wright Flyer. This was the first, piloted, heavier than air, aircraft that could take off and fly under its own power. It was the first modern airplane. On December 17, 2003 , a life size model of this plane was flown to honor the Wright Brothers.
Materials that you
will need:
* 1 Large or 2 medium size Styrofoam clean meat trays
(At least 9 inches by 11 inches)
* 22 Round toothpicks
* White glue
* Scissors
* Tape
* Paint
* Dime or similar size weight
* Fine sandpaper
In 2003, a life size model was built by AIAA honoring the Wright Brothers.
Procedure to follow:
* Using the diagram below, trace patterns onto the Styrofoam. Stick a pin
or mark through all holes in diagram to mark their location on the Styrofoam.
* Cut out all parts. Shape the wings and elevator with sandpaper.
* Push one toothpick lengthwise through the center of each rudder. Glue each
rudder upright at one end of the body - one to the right edge and the other
to the left. Then glue on the rudder top.
* Dip 18 toothpicks in glue and place the toothpicks upright on the dot marks
made by the pin. Dab glue on the toothpick tops and lay the second wing carefully
on them. Using the dots as a guide. Press together carefully. Cut a toothpick
in half and glue one piece to each of the two middle toothpicks so they look
like propellers. Set aside to dry.
* Assemble the elevator by dipping the end of 5 toothpick halves in glue.
Place the toothpicks upright on the dots on one section of the elevator. Dab
glue on the tops and place the second section of the elevator on them. Press
together carefully.
* Glue the set of wings to the center of the body.
* Glue the set of elevators to the other end of the body.
* Tape a dime to the bottom of the flyer between the wings and elevators.
* Wait for the glue to dry. Now you are ready for takeoff.
* Kneel down, and fly your model nice and low just like the Wright Brothers
flew their first flyer. Nice and easy and gentle.
If you would like to work on a more complex model of the Wright brothers 1903 plane,
visit this web site: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Wright/ROGER/1903model.htm
At this site, Roger Storm of NASA Glenn Research Center presents detailed, step-by-step illustrated instructions for building a scale model of the Wright brothers' 1903 aircraft. There is a downloadable and printable 1903 template.
From 1900 to 1903, the Wright brothers designed other flying machines. This website introduces the other not so famous planes. The activity introduces the ideas of scaling and following directions, and prompts the student to investigate the invention process.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Wright/ROGER/models.htm
Other interesting and fun sites about this topic include: