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Airplanes Facts & Worksheets

An airplane is any class of a powered, fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust. It can come in different sizes, shapes, and wing configurations.

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An airplane is any class of a powered, fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust. It can come in different sizes, shapes, and wing configurations.

See the fact file below for more information on the airplanes or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Airplanes worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • Airplanes or aeroplanes, more commonly known simply as planes, are powered, fixed-wing aircraft that move forward with the help of thrust from a turbine engine, a propeller, or a rocket engine.
  • Airplanes can come in different sizes, shapes, and wing configurations according to how it will be used. Examples of different types of use include recreation, transportation of goods or people, military purposes, or for research.

HISTORY

  • In 1903, The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the standard-setting and record-keeping body for aeronautics, considered the Wright brothers as the first ones who invented, built, and flew the first airplane. This was known as the first heavier-than-air powered flight that was sustained and controlled.
  • The Wright brothers built on the works of George Cayley from
  • By 1905, the Wright brothers had built the Wright Flyer III, which was capable of fully controllable, stable flight for substantial periods of time.
  • In 1906, Alberto Santos-Dumont made what was claimed to be the first airplane flight unassisted by catapult, which is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile without the aid of a propellant. This creation actually set the the first world record recognized by the Aéro-Club de France by flying 220 meters in less than 22 seconds.
  • During World War I, airplanes were seen as potential mobile observation platforms, as well as war-capable machines.
  • In 1915, a synchronized machine gun-armed fighter aircraft demonstrated the earliest aerial victory. It was achieved by German Luftstreitkräfte Leutnant Kurt Wintgens.
  • After World War I, aircraft continued to develop.
  • In 1919, the first commercial flights were accomplished between the United States and Canada.
  • During World War II, airplanes played a significant role in military strategies and were deeply connected with major battles, such as the German Blitzkrieg, The Battle of Britain, and the Pacific War of the American and Japanese aircraft carrier.

PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE

  • The turbine engine (or engine) is referred to as the powerplant of an airplane. This is the part that generates thrust in order to lift the airplane into the sky. The engine also creates hydraulic and electric power that the airplane uses.
  • The wings of an airplane are the most noticeable parts of an airplane. The wings act like a bird’s wings in order to lift the airplane into the air and to control the airflow as the airplane flies. Wings are tilted in a way that they can allow the pilot of the airplane to decrease or increase the descent rate of the airplane during flight.
  • Winglets reduce the turbulence at the tip of the wings of the airplane.
  • The horizontal stabilizers are parts of an airplane that protrude out. These stabilizers help keep the airplane’s equilibrium when flying up and down.
  • The vertical stabilizer is the shark-like fin at the tail section of the airplane. This part helps prevent lateral movements of the airplane that could cause slippage, which could make the airplane uncontrollable to handle.
  • The rudder is the part that is responsible in controlling the side-to-side motion of the airplane.
  • The elevator works in a way that it can control the pitch motion of the airplane. Elevators going up means the airplane is going up, and elevators going down means the airplane is going down.
  • At the back of each wing is a flap. Flaps are placed in order to help increase the lift of the airplane into the air.
  • Ailerons are the hinged surfaces of the wings. Ailerons help in controlling lateral balance, and they work asymmetrically when flying, which means that when the right aileron goes up, the left aileron goes down and vice versa.
  • Spoilers can be found on the top surface of the wing, and they help reduce the lift of the airplane in order to achieve a proper landing.
  • Slats can be found on the front part of the wing, and they are adjustable so the pilot can use discretion when altering them to the desired level during take-off.
  • The fuselage is the centermost part of an airplane. It is responsible for the structural integrity of the cargo and of the passengers.
  • The cockpit is where the pilot manages the airplane.

HOW AIRPLANES FLY

  • Airplanes are able to fly when the movement of air across their wings creates an upward force on the wings and then to the rest of the body of the airplane. This force must be greater than the force of gravity that pulls the airplane down.
  • The physics behind how airplanes fly was described by Daniel Bernoulli, and it is now known as the Bernoulli Principle.
  • The faster air moves through an area, the lower the air pressure becomes. The slower the air moves through an area, the higher the air pressure becomes. The wings of an airplane are designed in a way that they take into account this principle and create a force that would be able to lift the airplane into the sky.

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Airplanes produce greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide (CO2).
  • Airplanes also contribute to the noise pollution around us.
  • Airplanes have black boxes, which are more technically known as Flight Data Recorders.
  • The largest airplane in the world weighs nearly 600 tons.
  • Airplanes are designed to be able to handle lightning.

Airplanes Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the airplanes across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Airplanes worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about an airplane which is any class of a powered, fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust. It can come in different sizes, shapes, and wing configurations.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Airplanes Facts
  • More Info
  • Identify
  • How?
  • Answer
  • Map
  • Cockpit
  • The Brothers
  • Aviation
  • Design
  • Share!

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Link will appear as Airplanes Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 12, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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