Re: Purdue's New High School Flight Initiative

From: Jake Palmer <82.jake_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2016 09:53:48 -0700

Lew Gitlow used to sell an ornithopter kit. I'm not sure if any of the IMS
kits are still being sold anywhere.

On Fri, Oct 21, 2016 at 9:36 AM, N Dennis wombatt_at_gmail.com
[Indoor_Construction] <Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> Tom, do you think the students have any experience at all building models
> or are going in "cold"?? Just thinking, maybe you should start them with
> something super simple to learn the basics of trimming and adjusting.
> Being biased from working with middle schoolers, thinking maybe even
> foamies or stick and tissue with adjustable surfaces ( like my
> Dennydarts 😇)
>
> Then go to wright stuff types. Wonder, are there kits available for
> ornythopers ?
>
> wombat
>
> On Fri, Oct 21, 2016 at 11:17 AM, parkreation_at_msn.com
> [Indoor_Construction] <Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I just had a conversation with professor from Purdue University whom
>> reached out to me concerning a new high school initiative for researching
>> flight. A grant has been won by a group of high school teachers and they
>> want to pursue replicating insect flight. As bleak as that might seem to
>> us, they are very open to listening to what we can suggest to make the
>> experience more rewarding for high school students.
>>
>>
>> As part of the discussion, I asked if he could arrange getting the famous
>> Purdue Armory for flight testing?
>>
>> Yes, that is a very strong possibility!!
>>
>>
>> Here are some of the issues we discussed-
>>
>>
>> 1) The skill level needed to produce ornithopters that fly well enough to
>> be be studied is very high and beyond most high school students. They
>> currently have a plan to 3D model indoor ornithopters. So far no success
>> due to wing loading issues and mechanism issues (no surprise here)
>>
>>
>> 2) They are very aware of Wright Stuff. It can be part of the experience
>> (as could P-18 and others)
>>
>>
>> 3) Simpler aircraft (ie Wright Stuff) will increase skill levels for both
>> building and trimming.
>>
>>
>> 4) Demonstrations of across the board indoor flight including indoor
>> ornithopters?? Can we find enough people willing to drive to Purdue for
>> showing the nuances of indoor flight? Can this be done before the snow
>> flies? Any indoor contests coming up? West Baden, etc.?
>>
>>
>>
>> 5) Can someone find Roy White and see if he can still travel? Others
>> flying ornithopters? I believe once we show an AMA indoor ornithopter's
>> construction, the sooner we can guide the curriculum to sustainable success
>>
>> with more conventional aircraft.
>>
>>
>> 6) I gave the the Purdue folks a simple ratio concept of learning. I told
>> them that a Wright Stuff model will get them to "70 %" of their goal to
>> understanding miniature flight in the time frames they expect. Focusing
>> only on replicating insect flight might get them to "10 %" successful
>> application and understanding.
>>
>>
>> 7) I will receive a curriculum outline shortly for review.
>>
>>
>> Seeing this from a HS teacher's and Purdue professor's perspective, they
>> are expecting great things from the entomology department, biology
>> department, mechanical and aeronautical engineering departments with their
>> quest of studying and replicating insect flight. We need to be tactful and
>> cautious not to upset their apple cart.
>>
>>
>> I know I am preaching to the choir but I want to get this right, really
>> right, with Purdue. If we can help them get the curriculum workable and
>> earn them education kudos, my bet is that we can groom this into a very
>> nice symbiotic relationship with Purdue's Engineering department.
>>
>>
>> I am open to suggestions and any volunteers willing to come to
>> demonstrate various flight vehicles.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Tom Sanders
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Received on Fri Oct 21 2016 - 09:53:50 CEST