Central Area of operation:  Maryland, Northern Va & Washington DC (WDC)

The initial program’s focus is among a small group of energetic and motivated seventh through twelth grade students.  The team(s) will make efforts to accommodate all students of diversity, but sharing common interests.

Introductory meetings may be held during the week and Saturdays for up to 120 minutes.  The first meetings may be in-home for orientations and respond to questions from students and guardians.   As partners, students, parents or guardians (and family), will explore family schedules and develop navigation aids for the first 7-20 team members for 6-8 weeks.  Students will essentially engage in ground work and begin to cumulate simulation time, in increments of 60 minutes,  using the Harrier, JSF 35 or plane with similar flight specifications.  On occasions, other simulated flight vehicles may be used to compare flight characteristics and to broaden the youths engagement perspectives.

Essentially, by using using basic principles to connect-the-dots, the Pre-Flight initiative will enhance and facilitate the S.T.E.M. learning process by engaging principal concepts for flight, time management with motion, the environment, weather phenomena, sciences, safety and medical aspects of flight.   Using tangible resources for delivery, the initiatives outcomes are expected to be fun, strongly encourage intuitive and non-intuitive learning from the onset while building team cooperation for the spirit of competition.

The Pre-Flight program naturally capitalizes on the academic partnerships with science, tech, engineering and math curriculae.  Along with the student’s classroom instructions, students will experience heightened interests.  The new interests will be used to build competencies to investigate developing hypothesis  with their collaborators from multiple disciplines.  The process of engaging will enable quickening of their senses and excel their exposures to reinforcing content that is studied within the classroom and on the field.

In the most basic form, students participating in this program will be engaged through three key phases.   These distinct phases include:

Stage I.  Ground work    {Exposure – Environment & Effects of Flight}

NASA Aerospace Labs http://aerospace.wcc.hawaii.edu/NASAael.html

•  Fundamental vector forces {Lift, Thrust/Propulsion, Drag, Gravity}

•  Wind & Atmospheric influences
–  pressure measurements, atmospheres, psi, mmHG
–  crosswinds, crabbing and windsheer,

•  Geo-positioning: Magnetic v Due N/S/E/W:
–  Latitude
–  Longitude

•  Rotating props, P-factor
•  Stalls
•  Visits to Museums, Airports & Weather Studies (Labs)

Advanced level work is possible given strong student progressions and interests.

Stage II.  Simulations                Use of Flight Simulations (on-line) e.g. Real Flight G4.5 or higher
Review live demonstration formation flight teams
•  U.S. Air Force:  Thunderbirds F-16
•  U.S. Navy:  Blue Angles F-18

Stage III.  Air time:  Follows successful completion of Stages I & II.  Using four to six  (RV/UAV) electronically powered model planes, coordinated formation maneuvers will be performed by six principal student team members and their telemetry partners.   A seventh student should be prepared to stand-in as needed.  The seventh student must meet same performance demands required of the six for areal demonstrations and exhibition maneuvers.

The 7 student team will have successfully completed, minimally, 50 hours of simulation time and will have demonstrated command and control of their planes during coordinated,                 formation activities.

Additional students will participate as visual controllers who                 take positions around the fields to aid in navigation and                 joint performance.  They will relay information and communicate                 by using the language required to successfully manage the                 areal activities through their duration.  These students are                 eligible to become RV/UAV pilots after completing the                 50 hour minimum simulation requirement.

Flight demonstration schedule & sites – TBD.   Option Sites:                    MCPS Basketball courts, Football fields during half-time,                   Montgomery Airpark, Fairgrounds, Andrews AFB, USNA,                    Walt Good Airfield and other designated private or public                   sites.

Stage III extended includes the use of CAMs and GPS services mounted on at least one of a flight teams plane.  As this would be the beginning of College and career application’s developments.

Students should improve in documenting their participation experience in precision model flight with performances observations.  Mastery of multiple skill sets, including social skills are necessary to perform & succeed throughout group activity, into prodessional markets places and throughout careers.    Additionally, provided proper permits and licenses are granted, team formation comptetition will be held throughout (regionally and nationally, if possible) and where competitive teams participate.

Costs

Single Individual or one-time group visit . . . . . . . eMail rstaton@pre-flight.us

Stages I & II, 6 – 8 sessions

participant for  6 – 12 max . . . . .  . . . . . . . . eMail rstaton@pre-flight.us

Each session is 1.5 hours of activity.

Stage III, 6-8 sessions, each pilot (4-5/team)  . . .eMail rstaton@pre-flight.us STAGE III Students will:

.  Preview flight patterns of teams such as the    Blue Angels,    Thunderbirds, and other    Legendary Aerial teams.

.  Coordinate among themselves 20 – 30 minutes    of aerial maneuvers using  battery powered ULs.

.  Be challenged to meet crossover objective    leading into Algebra I and/or Geometry during    7th & 8th grade years.  Math and science trajec-    tories should include Pre-calculus and Physics. .  Throughout each marking period, aim consistently    for high grades in all subject areas. .  Be encouraged to participate in competitions such    as MESA, Math, Science, Engineering, Technology Forums    physical sports activities such as (but not limited to)      Football, Basketball, Scoccer, Martial Arts, Tennis,    Swimming, Cycling, etc.  Team sports are highly    recommended.

Parental or guardian permission are necessary.  Similarly,  Parents and/or guardians  are encouraged to participate. Transportation may be essential depending on region. Additional costs may include fees for their student(s)  activities.

References: vectors and motion