757 Glider Kit-GLIDER CHALLENGE EVENTS

DIRECTIONS: Divide class into flight squadrons (3 to 4 students per squadron). Have each student construct a 757 glider and write their name on the wing. Present glider challenges to squadrons. Explain to students the object of each event and how it is scored. Extra points can be obtained by completing a glider extension activity. Students should be encouraged to conduct some experimentation (i.e., add weight; reshape wing or tail) on their gliders in order to maximize the performance for the different objectives of each challenge. Rotate squadrons through the challenges keeping score on a squadron’s scoresheet. Debrief afterwards to discuss glider designs, experimentations, and outcomes.
CHALLENGE #1 -- 
Spot Landing Set-up: Tape off a large circle, 7 meters in diameter. Create a bull’s-eye ring with 3 circles, equally spaced from each other, inside the circle (5, 3, and 1 meter). Label circles (A, B, C, D) with A being the center ring. Give a point value to each circle with A being the largest point value and D being the smallest point value. Indicate the launching zone with another piece of masking tape 4 meters from the edge of outer circle. (You may wish to try a glider unmodified to see how far it can go and use the distance as a baseline for making adjustments.)
Playing rules: Object is to make modifications to the glider to improve its performance with the goal of launching the glider towards the circle and touching down inside circle A (the bull’s-eye).
Scoring: Points are determined by the spot the glider first “touches down” in the target area, not where it finally comes to rest. After each squadron member has landed their glider and determined the point score, the squadron’s combined points are entered on the score sheet.

757 Glider Kit

A Boeing 757-200 (B-757) was acquired in 1994 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for aeronautical research. Given the call sign NASA 557, this aircraft is used for conducting research on increasing aircraft safety, operating efficiency, and compatibility with future air traffic management systems, benefiting the U.S. aviation industry and commercial airline customers. Part of the Transport Research Facilities (TRF) project, this twinengine commercial aircraft was modified extensively to create a “flying laboratory.” Most of the seats were removed to make room for a large test area capable of carrying over 5100 kg (10,700 lb) of experiment equipment. It is outfitted with electronics for extremely precise instrumentation and data gathering capabilities, and a flexible interior configuration allows future upgrades to be incorporated. The B-757 is continuing the work begun by NASA’s Boeing 737-100, which has been in service for over 20 years. The B-757 retains the experimental approach of the B-737, but offers newer technology and improved capability.

“Airborne Trailblazer” by Lane Wallace is an excellent history of NASA’s B-737 research aircraft. <see: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/History/Publications/SP-4216/> One of the basic working philosophies of the TRF project is the concept of “simulation to flight.” The main objective is to develop technical or operational concepts (e.g., electronic cockpit displays, flight management systems, airborne windshear detection sensors) and take them from ground-based simulation testing to flight testing in an easy and straightforward manner. The TRF project includes the B-757 aircraft as well as several ground-based simulators and a Research Systems Integration Laboratory (RSIL). Increasing the effectiveness of conducting experiments from simulation to flight will better meet the needs for bringing advances in safety, operations, and capacity into the ever-changing national airspace system. The NASA 557 will be maintained and flown by NASA’s Langley Research Center (LARC) in Hampton, VA. Listed below are some experiments that have used the NASA 557.