Outreach Curriculum

The Society of Flight Test Engineers proudly provides access to the following courses for members to share with teachers or use themselves in a science classroom presentation on their own. Previous aviation experience is not required, although each course could be tailored for a more experienced audience.

Please contact each course's owner for more specific details.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Flight Test Engineering
• Flight Test Takeoff Project
• Flight Test Academy
• Aircraft Lightning Protection
• Oshkosh Air Adventure Flight Test Activity

Introduction to Flight Test Engineering

A one-class introduction to engineering in general and flight test specifically. This course includes slides, demonstrations, videos, and an activity that describes what flight testing is and why it is needed.

This class is Flight Test Academy Unit 1.

Flight Test Takeoff Project

A series of classes that lead up to takeoff flight testing using the desktop flight simulator XPlane. This course was developed by the Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education office.

Flight Test Academy

A ten-week unit that takes students with no previous aviation experience through the flight test planning, executing, and reporting process using the desktop flight simulator X-Plane. This course includes 5 units:

• Basic Takeoff Testing
• Advanced Takeoff Testing
• Climb Testing
• Cruise Testing
• The Washington Apple Challenge

Rudder Size Comparison

A presentation and a student analysis activity on why the B-52 rudder is so much smaller compared to the Boeing 747 and 787.  For students who have completed Units 1 and 2 of Flight Test Academy.

Aircraft Lightning Protection

A presentation and exercises from the FAA lightning expert that incorporates many of the electromagnetic concepts from a grade 12 (ages 17-18) physics class and applies it to show how aircraft are designed and tested to be protected from lightning encounters without serious consequences.

Oshkosh Air Adventure Flight Test Activity

This aerospace testing activity is presented by SFTE to student attendees at the Oshkosh Air Adventure airshow. The activity uses a flight simulator to teach basic flight testing principles to a middle-school aged audience (ages 12-15, grades 7-9).