From:	glueck@saturn.caps.maine.edu (Richard Glueck)
Subject: Chanute Glider flies at Middle School
Date:	Fri, 7 Jun 1996 06:52:11 -1000
Organization: University of Maine System
Message-ID: <4p9mnr$1cb0@sol.caps.maine.edu>

ORONO SIXTH GRADERS FLY CHANUTE GLIDER SUCCESSFULLY!
 
Sixth grade students at the Orono Middle School, in Orono, Maine flew 
their 
Chanute 1896 glider over a distance of 150 feet today, June 07, 1996.
 
The students built twin copies of the famous biplane glider as an integrated
mathematics/science project over the entire school year.  The risk to fly 
took
place in front of a field of approximately 400 younger students, upper 
classmen, parents and media personnel-- and a special guest- Mr. Joseph 
Hodges,
great-great grandson of the aviation pioneer, Octave Chanute.  
 
The first of the two gliders flew at 09:15 AM.  The glider flew a 
distance of
only 10 feet before lack of air speed brought the glider down.  After 
adjusting 
for increased air speed and vehicle attitude, the second of the two 
gliders was 
launched at 09:50, flying a distance of approximately 150 feet and 
reaching 
an altitude of about 35 feet.   The glider landed on it's undercarriage 
and 
nosed over without breaking any of it's components.  
 
The flights were covered by Maine Public Broadcasting, CBS and NBC 
affiliates, 
as well as the Bangor Daily News and the Penobscot Times.  
 
The successfully flown glider will be moved to the education complex at 
Kennedy
Space Center as soon as transportation can be arranged.  The first glider 
will 
repaired and offered to another site for display.  
 
The Chanute glider project of 1996 is the most recent of a series of 
annual 
aerospace projects integrated into the sixth grade curriculum.  Previous 
projects were Mercury and Gemini capsule simulators, a Wright 1902 
glider, 
the Ritchel dirigible of 1878, Bell tetrahedral kites, and a large hot 
air 
balloon.
 
Schools and other groups interested in today's event and these types of 
education projects should contact teachers Richard Glueck and Chris Chilelli
at the Orono Middle School, 14 Goodridge Drive, Orono, Maine 04473, or by 
E-mail at this address. 
 
 
 




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