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September 24, 2003
You're in the Cockpit!
Another training day. The photo below (left) shows the ultralight aircraft that the young cranes think of as Mom or Dad. Find these things:
* the white
costume on the seat, waiting for you to put it on;
* the horizontal bar across the front, used to steer and guide the plane;
* the propeller in the back, enclosed in a protective "cage;"
* the pilot's seat, exposed on all sides to the air.
Did you know that this whole aircraft weighs only as much as the pilot's
seat on a 747? (That's about 350 pounds.) We invite you to be in charge
today, with a little help from Operation Migration's Joe Duff. Joe was
kind enough to tell us what the dials mean and how they're used. So get
set to climb into the seat and think like a pilot!
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Ultralight
ready to go. |
Look over the edge. You're airborne! |
Study the page below, and then use the information to answer today's journaling questions!
1.
Read the altimeter. How many feet high are you AGL (above ground level)?
2. Which button would you push if you wanted to broadcast this
sound to the birds?
3. Find the airspeed Indicator. How many miles per hour are you traveling
through the air?
4. What instrument will you use (it's missing from the photo) to find
your ground speed? What makes ground speed differ from air speed?
5. What is the name of the dial or instrument that tells how fast you
are traveling up or down in feet per minute? Which can climb faster--the
ultralight or a Whooping crane? How many minutes could it take a Whooping
crane to climb to 4000 feet?
6. When talking to the airport, what letters would you use to identify
yourself over the radio?
7. At how many RPMs is the engine turning right now?
8. If those are your legs in the photo, how can you tell that you aren't
flying with the cranes today?
OVER AND OUT!
Journey North is pleased to feature this educational
adventure made possible by the
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).
Copyright
2003-2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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