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Wright
Brothers' Invention Process
(1900 - 1902) - Developed
Flight Control Systems
The Wright brothers' ideas for flight
control were tested on a series of unpowered
aircraft between 1900 and 1902.
These aircraft were all flown
as kites to
obtain aerodynamic performance.
The Wright Brothers were kite enthusiasts and
they used the kite flights in the same way that modern engineers use wind tunnels
and flight testing to try out their ideas concerning flight control.
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina was chosen for their early flight experiments
because its consistent high winds off the ocean are perfect for
kite flying. The brothers correctly reasoned that a free flying object had
to be controlled about all three primary axes;
roll,
pitch, and
yaw.
Their aircraft were built with movable surfaces on the
wing,
elevator, and
rudder.
Control of the surface shape was in the hands of the pilot. They extensively tested
these ideas by glider flights
of the aircraft.
Today, NASA engineers at the Langley Research
Center use sophisticated models and wind tunnels to improve the
flight control of modern aircraft. These ideas are flight tested
at the Dryden Flight Research Center.
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
| K-8
Aeronautics Internet Textbook |
Numerous
lesson plans, demonstrations, activities and information
on aerospace careers are available. Detailed information
on the Wright Brother's Flight Process, including journal
entries, are also featured. |
K- 8 |
x |
|
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 |
| Plane
Math |
This
interactive website, designed for children with physical
disabilities, contains activities relating math to aeronautics.
|
K-4 |
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
| The
Wright Brothers Posters |
This
pair of posters includes "The Process of Invention" and
"Innovation Through Flight". Both posters showcase the
vital role that engineering has played in human progress.
|
K-12 |
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 |
|
Site Map and Links to Wright Brothers Information
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