Since man has been on Earth they looked at the birds and have wanted to fly.
Birds make flying look easy, but they have hollow bones and feathers.
Man does not. However, that didn’t stop humans from finding a way to soar high in the sky.
Read on to discover all about the airplane, like how it came to be, how it works, and even what NOT to do on an airplane.
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Airplanes Facts for Kids
- The Wright brothers flew the first airplane in 1903
- Aida de Acosta was the first woman to fly a plane solo
- We use them for transporting people and goods.
- Modern passenger airplanes can carry hundreds of people
- Modern commercial aircraft can fly between 31,000 and 38,000 feet
- The largest aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-225
Types of Airplanes
There is more than one type of airplane. Read on to discover some of the aircraft we have today.
Glider
A glider is an aircraft without an engine. The pilot controllers it using a control-stick. Some can carry one person, but you can also get them for two people.
They have a cockpit for the pilot and instrument panels for flight information
The pilot can stay airborne for hours by flying through the air that is moving up as fast or faster than the glider.
Passenger Airplane
By 2039 it’s estimated that there will be 48,000 passenger jet aircraft in the world.
We use these all the time
- To go on vacation
- Visit family
- Work
- Transports food and goods
The Airbus A380 can carry over 800 passengers and is the world’s largest passenger airliner. Its landing gear has amazing shock absorption when landing because of the weight.
All airplanes have round windows for safety reasons. In the early days, they discovered windows with corners could lead to accidents.
Helicopters
These have huge blades on top of the body to create lift and motion. Helicopters usually only carry a few people at a time.
They can do difficult maneuvers by hovering and fly at speeds between 160 mph or 260 km/h
They are used to
- Transport people
- Carry Good
- Search and rescue
- Help fighting fires
- Tourism
They can do things that airplanes can’t do. They can fly up and down. They don’t need a runway to takeoff. They can fly sideways and backward, and best of all can hover in one spot without moving.
Jets and Fighter Planes
These are mostly used in the military and can reach speeds up to 2,574 kilometers-per-hour (1,600 miles-per-hour)!
Space Shuttle
These are purely for going into outer space. They are between an airplane and a rocket.
Paper Airplane
Made from ordinary paper and designed for pure fun.
Ponder This:
Passenger airplanes can carry hundreds of people. How many do you think the biggest one (the Airbus A380) can transport?
The History of the Airplane
The history of flying started way back in 400 A.D with the Chinese. They invented the kite, which got scientists thinking about wind currents and how they worked. In 1485, a famous painter (Leonardo Da Vinci) drew pictures of flying machines. However, it wasn’t until much later when two brothers were successful in making the first flyable airplane.
The date that made history was December 17th, 1903 when the dream of Orville Wright and his brother, Wilbur came true. Orville took to the sky in his first-ever motor-powered aircraft. The airplane sputtered to life and flew 120 feet (36 meters) in only 12 seconds. People were astonished that their dream of flying was now being made possible.
Wilbur also tried his hand at flying their creation. How do you think his flight went? Find out in More Freaky Flying Facts.
It’s All About Defying Gravity
Gravity is the invisible force that keeps us (and everything else) from flying off the Earth. So when it comes to designing an airplane, it’s all about defying this heavy force.
One of the things that helps an airplane fly is the shape and length of the wings. These are specially designed to give the airplane lift. They are called airfoil. The body of the airplane or fuselage is long and thin, which makes it more aerodynamic (how the air moves around the plane). The engine gives the airplane enough thrust to propel it forward. With all three of these components working together, the airplane is able to overcome the drag of air currents and the heavyweight of gravity.
Special airplanes can reach speeds up to 1,235 kilometers-per-hour (768 miles-per-hour). What are these jets called?
What NOT to Do On an Airplane
Being on a long flight can be very boring. But there are things you can do to pass the time. Try reading, listening to music or taking a nap. However, there are things we don’t recommend doing while you are in an airplane. Read on…
Do Not;
- Yell “pillow fight!” when the flight attendant hands out the pillows.
- Push the call bell and pretend you got a shock.
- Continue to ask silly questions to the people around you like, “do you like ears or noses better?”
- Keep ringing the call bell and asking the flight attendant, “are we there yet?”
More Freaky Factoids
We haven’t flown over all the fun just yet. Here are the answers to you ponder these questions. Check it out.
Did you know…
- Wilbur Wright’s first flight was not very successful? He actually ended up damaging the airplane.
- Supersonic jets can break the sound barrier?
- the new AirBus A380’s can carry up to 840 passengers?
- you should NEVER say you have a bomb on an airplane? This will get you in serious trouble.
Now that you have learned all these high-flying facts, you can glide over to your friends and family to share your new-found knowledge. Who knows? You might just become known as “the pilot of the best airplane facts ever.”
