Let’s Fly!

by Inga Vasiljeva

“Let’s Fly!”

Written and illustrated by Inga Vasiljeva

Copyright © 2015 by Inga Vasiljeva. All rights reserved.

Designed and published in Chicago, USA.

Printed and bound by Blurb, Inc.

First edition, June 2015.

Preface The goal of the book is to help parents

answer tough questions asked by their

children about why things fly.

The function of this book is to serve

as a fun and educational tool in exploring

and learning the science of flying.

Intro: Airic—the air bubble 1–5

Propertiesofair: air takes up space 6–7

air has weight 8–9

air has pressure 10–13

air moves 14–19

air compared to Helium 18–19

Airic’s daydream 20–21

air expands by heating 22–25

air sinks by cooling 26

air as an air brake 27–29

Airplanes: shape of the body 30–31

shape of the wings 32–37

function of the tail 38–41

propellers 42–43

engines 44–45

FlightPerformance: winglets 46–49

forces 50–51

biomimicry 52–55

airfoils 56–63

weather 64–65

flight controls 66–69

This is Airic,

the main character of the book.

Airic is an air bubble.

He is made of air particles called

Nitrogen and Oxygen.

v

On a sunny morning,

while visiting his grandmother in Chicago,

Airic heard a bird chirp outside.

He ran to the window

to see what kind of bird it was.

It was a Robin.

1

“Hi Robin!”, said Airic.

“Good Morning, Airic!”,

may I share some breakfast with you”,

said the cheerful bird with

a big worm between the blades of its beak.

“No, no, thank you!”, said Airic.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

2

“Are you not hungry?”, asked the bird.

Airic smiled and said:

“No, I am just a bubble of air.”

Air does not get hungry.”

3

DING DONG, the doorbell rang.

Airic’s friends were at the door.

4

“Let’s go for a bike ride, Airic!” they shouted.

“Wait for me!”, replied Airic, quickly putting on his shoes.

5

Before riding the bicycle,

Airic pumped the tires until

the tires were full of air.

6

airt

akesupspace

7

After the bicycle ride, Airic’s friend Freddy

asked Airic to make a balloon.

Airic took a deep breath and blew inside the ballon.

The balloon grew bigger and bigger

with each breath.

airhasweight

8

airhasweight

9

Suddenly, BAM!

The big, red baloon burst.

“Oh no!”, exclaimed Airic. “Why did it burst?”

The balloon burst because too much air was inside.

“I don’t like when it happens!”, cried Airic.

10

airhaspressure

airhaspressure

11

Airpressureunderthewingsliftsairplaneup

intheair.

“Air pressure is not all bad, Airic.

It does many good things”, his friends explained.

“What kind of things?”, asked Airic.

12

“When an airplane moves forward,

the air pressure under the wings

lifts the airplane up in the air”, they said.

13

Airmakestheballoongrowbig

.

Airic blew another balloon.

When balloon got big and round

Airic stopped blowing.

The balloon had just enough air in it

and did not burst.

14

Airic then tied a string around the balloon

and put it on the ground.

15

Soon the wind came running over the lawn.

The wind picked the balloon up in the air.

“Put the balloon down!”, shouted Airic.

“I want to take the balloon home with me!”, shouted the wind.

“Oh, no. This balloon is for my friend!”, said Airic firmly.

“Okay!”, said the wind and released the balloon.

16

Thewindisairthatmoves.Itcanholdthingsup.

17

AballoonfilledwithHeliumwillriseupintheair.

Airic took another balloon.

He filled the balloon with »Helium«.

Helium is gas that is lighter than air.

The balloon quickly rose in the air.

18

AballoonfilledwithHeliumwillriseupintheair.

Airic then gave the blue balloon

to the wind.

“Thank you, Airic”, said the wind and

flew away.

19

“I want to fly too!”, said Airic.

20

“Can I fly without wings?

I will read a book to find out.”

21

Preview shows 27 pages of 76 page book.

Most suitable for ages 4—10, although written

to be enjoyed by adults alike.

Being both fun and educational, the book is a

great addition to a storytelling hour in your home.

Order your copy at:

http://www.blurb.com/b/6255936-let-s-fly