Developing the mission flight plan overview inform explore try support
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EXPLORE

Teacher Activities
  
Student Activities

EXPLORE each groups' answers to their questions and as a class select the best aircraft or determine which information is still missing to select the best aircraft. Provide rationale for the optimal aircraft selection based on analysis all of the collected data.

Prompt each group, one at a time, to present their selected aircraft and their rationale as to why their choice of aircraft is/are best given their specific information.

  • Three groups present their selected aircraft to the class.

Discuss each groups' selection and determine the best aircraft for the groups' given mission parameters. 

  • Each group provides feedback about other groups' selection (s).

  • Be sure to point out the given parameters for each group and how the introduction of additional parameters from different perspectives helps to make the ultimate selection possible.

  • During these presentations the students construct an overall table with all key information necessary to select the best aircraft.
    Note:     Students may record notes on the provided worksheets that they did not complete during the group work or perhaps the class should create a combined table on the chalk board or poster paper.

Ask which aircraft is best aircraft for this mission? Why?  

Ask how does this choice compare to your initial selection after identifying the characteristics of each of the aircraft?

Discuss next step---- develop flight plan for the mission.

  

Sample student responses:

  • Group 1: ER-2, DC-8, King Air (based on information about the remote sensing instruments)

  • Group 2: ER-2, DC-8, Pathfinder (based on information about mission planning factors, i.e. maximum cruise duration and weather requirements)

  • Group 3: SR-71, ER-2, Pathfinder (based on information about important questions to be considered while planning flight mission)

Note: Students may have already removed the SR-71 from the list of viable choices based on fact that the research purpose of the SR-71 is not remote sensing missions. However, students may find references to historical uses of the SR-71 for aerial reconnaissance - taking pictures.

 

 

Sample student responses:

  • ER-2 - purpose, altitude, crew, airport runways lengths available, flight distance and time, AVIRIS requirements.

  • Students reflect back on their original choice and how their original selection was supported with the new information and needed to change based on what they learned.