Los Angeles, CA, November 29th, 2011—Fly To Learn and Build A Plane announced today their cooperative alliance to use STEM education software to build virtual airplanes. The program will culminate in an Aviation Challenge where students compete using their digital planes against one another in regional and national competitions.
“This is a perfect fit with Build A Plane’s goal of giving kids the chance to build aircraft,” Build A Plane’s Lyn Freeman said. “Not every school can or wants to build a real airplane, but now everybody can build an airplane virtually thanks to our new partnership with Fly to Learn.”
Fly to Learn has developed a classroom curriculum which is paired with the world’s leading flight simulator software, X-Plane. Kids learn the basics of aviation, and apply what they’ve learned to build a virtual airplane and fly it via X-Plane simulation.
“X-Plane is a great learning experience because the software is sensitive to things like center of gravity, induced drag, angle of incidence and more,” Fly to Learn’s Thomas Dubick said. “Students experience strong academic rigor by designing, flying, and analyzing the results of their modifications to virtual aircraft.”
Build A Plane and Fly to Learn are working together now to create the rubrics allowing schools across the United States to fly their virtual airplanes in competition. Classroom challenges lead to regional challenges which progress to a national competition. The virtual fly-off is intended to follow the footsteps of First Robotics and First Lego competitions. The Build A Plane/Fly to Learn efforts will initially focus on middle schools before expanding to elementary and high school versions of the program.
For more information, go to FlytoLearn.com or BuildAPlane.org.
About Fly To Learn
FTL’s mission is to enhance academic excellence by enriching the classroom learning environment for educators and students at all levels regardless of social status. This program provides a cost effective, revolutionary technology platform that offers an engaging and unique learning tool promoting the principles of S.T.E.M. FTL enjoys the support of Time Warner and Goodrich Corporations.
About Build A Plane
An IRS-approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and has placed more than 200 aircraft in schools so kids have a chance to build a real airplane. Build A Plane works in formal partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration supports their many efforts for AVSED, aviation and space education.
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