In this promising practice lesson, students conduct an extended experiment in which they change and test different flight conditions. By working in pairs or small groups, they will better understand how research teams of engineers and scientists must work together cooperatively to complete large projects. (author/ts)

This is an excellent hands on activity illustrating various physics principles dealing with design aspects that influence airplane performance. This resource is appropriate for high school career-technical students who work well in groups and are more motivated when actively engaged in the concepts being taught. Students involved in the Engineering and Science Technologies career field would benefit from this problem-based activity by learning how to design airplanes through a trial and error process. (cb)