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Future Flight resources

In partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we have created a series of resources that look at the future of flight.

These fun resources get students applying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to develop solutions for transport-based challenges. 

From designing a system to drop emergency aid pallets from an aircraft to making a model of an electric aircraft engine, there are a variety of resources that will get pupils thinking about sustainability, renewable energies and modern technologies.  

Download the free resources below! And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery.

Aircraft chic

Research the different parts of an aircraft being retired from the fleet and suggest how they could re-use these parts in their own products.

Go to Aircraft chic

Cabin mood lighting

Make a mood lighting circuit that can help passengers to relax whilst inside an aircraft cabin. Then test the circuit to see if it works.

Go to Cabin mood lighting

Drop it

Design a method or system of getting emergency aid from an aircraft to the ground safely.

Go to Drop it

Flying high

Calculate the amount of energy needed to launch a space rocket. Discuss the meaning of the term escape velocity and perform calculations based on the Space X and Saturn V rockets.

Go to Flying high

Hydrogen power

Discuss the problems associated with the use of oil-based fuels, potential energy sources of the future and how the use of hydrogen fuels could solve them. Then produce hydrogen from water and investigate ways to make it work better.

Go to Hydrogen power

Measuring noise

Measure noise produced by a range of activities using a sound meter to understand how noise is measured and that high levels can damage our hearing.

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Solar powered engine

Make a model of an electric aircraft engine that uses solar-powered rechargeable batteries and calculate how long it can run for before it needs to be recharged.

Go to Solar powered engine

Stop it

Develop a parachute type system that will help a spacecraft to land and stop safely. 

Go to Stop it

How high will it go?

Work out the height of a released balloon using a clinometer and practical application of trigonometry. This activity could be used as an introduction to the use of trigonometry within engineering.

Go to How high will it go

Wearable cockpit

Design a wearable cockpit that makes use of new and modern technologies. Produce a specification of the design requirements and a mind map of ideas. Then produce sketches of their initial ideas before producing a completed final design.

Go to Wearable cockpit

In you enjoyed these activities, maybe you would also like to try some about transport?

Transport resources

Learn about different methods of transport, navigation, forces and fuels with our transport collection.

Go to Transport