Aurora Flight Sciences most recently made headlines with a test of its MarsFlyer, a prototype aircraft that, in its final version, will be used by NASA to gather information about the Red Planet's atmosphere. The company's Web site has information about this and many other specialized aircraft, as well as a video from the tail of the MarsFlyer as it was dropped from 100,000 feet. Specific...

At this website, NASA provides users with many pages discussing the science of the Wright Brothers' aircraft as well as information that has been discovered since 1905. Physics students can find lots of materials on fundamental concepts such as Newton's laws, equilibrium, thermodynamics, basic aerodynamics, and power. The website features interactive sections to educate people about lift, drag,...

Although the centennial anniversary of the Wright Brothers' groundbreaking achievement has come and gone, these two sites provide a unique glimpse into past events and future prospects. First, the companion website to a December 16, 2003 NOVA episode offers a retrospective on the Wright Brothers' Flying Machine. Several interactive features and picture galleries are provided. Additionally, the...

This website features the UC Museum of Paleontology Vertebrate Flight Exhibit created by John R. Hutchinson, a graduate student in Dr. Kevin Padian's lab at UC-Berkeley. This site serves as a great introduction for teachers and students interested in the natural history, mechanics, or other aspects of vertebrate flight. The exhibit works like a tutorial organized under the heading: Learn the...