Wright Flight
North Middle School
7th and 8th grade students
If you are reading this notice, your child has expressed interest in participating in the Wright Flight program offered to 7th and 8th grade NMS students. This is an aviation STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) program designed to train students in all aspects needed to pilot an airplane, which he or she will have the opportunity to do after successfully completing the program. The program is organized by the Barnes Airport Support Group Educational Program.
North Middle School will be offering the Wright Flight program at our school on Wednesday afternoons from 2:40-4:00 PM starting January 25 through May 16, 2012. Each week students will learn about many aspects of aviation including, but not limited to aerodynamics, navigation, meteorology, airplane systems, communications, the history of aviation, precision engineering/manufacturing, and modern flight technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Students will use flight simulation technology to hone their flying skills. Various personnel from Barnes Airport and other professionals from the community will volunteer as instructors for these lessons. Two field trips during the school day will be to the New England Air Museum and Berkshire Industries. Upon completion of the course, students will travel to Barnes Airport and pilot a Cessna 172 single engine airplane or similar aircraft for a half-hour of flight and observation for a half-hour.
The mission of the Western Massachusetts Wright Flight Program is to educate students from grades 7 through college level to the history of aviation, its future, the significance of aviation in the development of technology, its global impact, and the any careers in the aviation industry. The program emphasizes the importance of setting goals, developing plans to attain those goals, and understanding the need to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The program also seeks to recruit and integrate students of diversity into the aviation industry.
Mr. Baker will have registration forms available Monday, December 12th, 2011 for any student interested. The cost for the program is $185.00 plus an additional fee (TBA) to pay for bus transportation to one of the program field trips. The program will run Wednesday afternoons from 2:40-4:00 PM and students must arrange for a ride home. Limited seating is available for participation in the program; therefore registration will be on a first come first serve basis unless the number of registrations exceed 18. At that point specific criteria will be used to determine which students would most benefit from the program (ie. those who have not participated in Wright Flight or attended Space Camp and/or who are 8th graders).
Find more information about the program at:
www.wrightflight.org