The aviation industry
People have long dreamed of flying like birds. The first device to lift a person into the sky was a hot-air balloon, tested in France in the 18th century, but it depended on the wind. Then the airship appeared. In 1903 the Wright brothers made the first powered flight steered by a pilot in their plane, the Flyer. The earliest planes were made mainly of wood and cloth, and today’s of light metal. An aeroplane flies with an engine and wings. Its kinds are transport planes carrying passengers and cargo, sport planes, and special planes for farming and fighting fires. A rocket carries satellites and astronauts into space; the first person in space, Yuri Gagarin, flew on 12 April 1961.
You need: an A4 sheet, ruler, paper clip, tape measure. Steps: 1) Fold the sheet in half lengthwise and open it: a centre line appears. 2) Fold the two upper corners to this line. 3) Fold the new slanted edges again to the centre line. 4) Fold the plane in half along the centre line with the flaps on the outside. 5) Fold each wing down so its top edge lines up with the bottom edge of the body. 6) Hold it under the nose and throw gently in an open area. Test: clip the paper clip on the nose and then remove it, and measure which version flies farther. Safety: never throw the plane toward anyone’s face, especially near the eyes; do not throw near windows or on stairs.