Most aircraft are small airplanes, gliders and helicopters. They carry only a few people - sometimes only one. These airplanes do many different things. Some of the airplanes belong to companies. They fly their employees and customers from one city to another.

Farmers use airplanes to spread seeds, fertilizer and insecticide in their fields. This saves much time and money.

Police are able to rescue people using airplanes and helicopters. Fire fighters can parachute into remote areas to fight fires.

People may learn to fly airplanes. Students usually learn to fly small airplanes first. This can take up to 6 months. A student must pass a physical exam and learn how to use the radio-telephone in the airplane. You must pay money for flying lessons.

There are many airplanes in the air. They must follow rules in the air like automobiles do on the road. People on the ground in control towers tell the pilot what to do.

Some people like to fly airplanes for pleasure (fun). Every summer, in Reno, Nevada people come to watch sports racing. Airplanes race each other to see who is the fastest. People also like to watch airplanes do tricks (aerobatics) in the air. They are judged to see who does the best tricks. The scoring is similar to figure skating.

Gliding is another sport some people enjoy. The glider is towed up into the air by an airplane. The glider pilot must look around for a "thermal column" (warm air rising). The warm air helps the glider stay up in the air.

A few more uses for airplanes:

1. A rancher uses his airplane to find some lost cattle. He drops alfalfa to them in the snow from his airplane.

2. A fisherman uses an airplane to spot a school of salmon in the ocean. He tells the fishing boat where to go.

3. A family goes to Hawaii on vacation. They rent an airplane to fly over all of the islands.

Explore Space ... Not Drugs!
Hear what astronauts have to say about staying drug-free.
Last modified: Mon Mar 23 22:49:02 PDT 1998