Students take flight with simulator in tech ed

Story by Abdullah Abuelreish

​Mr. Derek Dial, tech ed. teacher, gives students the opportunity to explore the virtual world, and one of those experiences is through flight simulation.
           
Flight simulation is thought to be one of the more interesting modules in Tech Ed. Flight simulation gives students the opportunity to understand aerodynamics and aspects of flight.
 
One student who has participated in the flight simulation is eighth grader Satvik Kandru. Kandru believes that learning the aspects of aerodynamics and flight will be very important in the future.
 
“I like flight simulation because you get to see great sights, like the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa,” Kandru said.
 
Another student who’s experienced the flight simulation is Abby Vernon. Vernon believes that landing is the toughest part of learning to fly. She also believes that “taxiing” (steering airplane on the ground), is by far the easiest procedure in flying.
 
Students get to explore the timeline through flight simulation. They first explore highlights in 1800’s and then all the way to the 2000’s. For example in the 1800’s, students explore Wilbur Wright’s journey with flight. In the 2000’s, they explore Steve Fossett’s journey with flight.
 
The students experiencing flight simulation control the airplane using a “yoke” to steer while in action in the air. The students also use rudder pedals to steer the plane while on ground.
 
Along with flight simulation, there are many other modules like electronics, graphic design, aerodynamics, engineering and stress, laser and fiber optics, residential  wiring, and space and rocketry that students choose to experience when down in the tech. ed. lab.