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First Flights Reference Library The Library has two objectives: First, obviously encouraging kids to read is a good thing. One way to accomplish this is to provide materials that they want to read. To do this we provide age appropriate aviation magazines that they are free to take and read. Also, we have some age appropriate books that they can read. Second, for the kids who want to learn more we want to provide a way for them to do that on their own time. The age appropriate books and magazine also serve this purpose.
Several age appropriate books are provided for the students
to read. The book Wild Blue Wonders: Exploring the Magic Flight by Lane
Wallace is the best book that I have found for explaining aviation to upper
elementary and middle school kids. The manner in which it is written with many
pictures, drawings and web addresses makes it ideally suited for this age
group. It can be purchased from the Experimental Aircraft Association To decorate the area at the Foundation For Youth where we
hold the First Flights classes we have put a number of aviation posters on the
walls. The first poster is an aviation map of the state of Indiana. The next
poster shows Burt Rutan holding a paper
airplane in front of SpaceShipOne. In my opinion, this poster tells a
significant message. The significance of this is that Burt Rutan learned skills
from model airplanes that allowed SpaceShipOne to be successful. This shows how
basic skills can be applied to accomplish very significant things. The other
picture frame shows a fold out section which used to be in Air and Space
magazine. These fold out sections are changed out every few weeks with a
different one to maintain interest. Finally, there is a set of three posters
that explains the basics of flying.
This library was created with donated materials with the exception of the books and the Burt Rutan poster. For less than a $100 we have created an area which encourages kids to read, has an aviation theme and communicates additional information.
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Magazines
for the students to take are collected from local people with an interest in
aviation. Experience has shown that people are more than willing to give away
their past issues so that the kids can read them. The magazines are put on a
rack so the kids are free to take them whenever they want. 
for $20. Flying: Just Plane Fun by Julie Grist provides for the same age
group a good explanation as to what is involved in making a flight in a small
airplane. This book also can be purchased from the Experimental Aircraft
Association. “What’s a Piper Cub?” by Jim Wheaton and Sam Lyons also
provides a similar explanation. This book can be purchased at lyonsstudio.com.
