Aviation

Today we are a world of frequent flyers. People travel easily from coast to coast and shuttles make deliveries in space. Yet it was only on Dec. 17, 1903, that Wilbur and Orville Wright made the world’s first successful flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine. Learn about the history and science of aviation, find out what it takes to be a pilot and glimpse the future of aviation through these direct links on the Times Launch Point Web site, https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint

Level 1

Aviation Through the Ages: As early as the days of the ancient Greeks, people have dreamed of flying. Trace the history of aviation from its beginnings with Chinese kites in 400 A.D. to the present day with supersonic aircraft, and read about aviators such as Chuck Yeager and the real Red Baron.

https://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3785/index.html

The American Experience: Wayback Flight: Learn about the history of aviation in the U.S. by getting acquainted with famous aviation pioneers and inventors. Read exciting tales of the perilous flights of the first airmail pilots and the aerial stunts of past and present-day barnstormers.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kids/flight/

NASAKid: Learn about the many explorations that space scientists are undertaking, try a variety of activities that teach you about space and read how students have designed science experiments that were later performed on the space shuttle.

https://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/

Level 2

Flights of Inspiration: View archival photos that tell the story of the Wright Brothers as well as John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown, who completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight. Learn the principles of flight by designing your own model aircraft and through other hands-on activities.

https://www.fi.edu/flights/

National Air and Space Museum Exhibitions: Did you know that spacecraft in orbit do not float around the Earth but are falling around it? Understand the science behind flight through some experiments in the “How Things Fly” exhibit and explore milestones in aviation through this impressive collection of exhibits.

https://www.nasm.edu/nasm/NASMexh.html

Women in Aviation: Amelia Earhart was the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air and the first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone. Read about important women in aviation’s history and find out about career opportunities.

https://library.thinkquest.org/21229/

Level 3

Aviation: The Science of Flight: Renaissance artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci drew sketches that are very similar to today’s hang-gliders, parachutes and helicopters. Learn about aviation history and its visionaries, view diagrams that explain the science behind flight, find out how to become a pilot and learn about possible aviation innovations for the future.

https://library.thinkquest.org/20174/present/

FAA Aviation Education: FAA-certified pilots must pass both practical and written tests, meet age and health requirements and be able to speak, read and understand English, the international language of aviation. Explore aviation through many helpful resources ranging from the weather facts that pilots need to know to a broad range of career opportunities.

https://www.faa.gov/education/

Aviation Week and Space Technology: This online news magazine provides the latest information on business, military, commercial and space aviation as well as a special exhibit on the next century of flight.

https://www.aviationnow.com/

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What are the four forces of flight?

CLUE: See Aviation: The Science of Flight

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point covers more than 150 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: More than 12 million people landed at Ellis Island.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Wendy Mora, Zhi Huang, Linda Ames and Anna Manring.