On Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26, SCVi 8th graders took their first glider flights.

Tapping into our curiosity about flight, iLEAD Student Aerospace‘s Soaring Aerodynamics project answers the question “How do things fly?” and introduces learners to the forces described by Newton and Bernoulli.

Through this project, learners use the engineering design process to fabricate and launch their own gliders, interact with a full-scale glider, learn from glider pilots about flight controls and aerodynamics, and fly a glider!

Preflight training on simulators supports the development of flight and navigation skills. The history of flight, anatomy of birds, current experimental gliders, and meteorology are woven in to extend and enhance knowledge, giving meaning to research and writing.

Special thanks to Skylark North glider flight school at Mountain Valley Airport for hosting and guiding the learners!