Pivotal BlackFly

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pivotal-blackfly

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the aircraft classification?American electric-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) personal air vehicle
2. What is the lead designer?Marcus Leng
3. How does the BlackFly fly without a runway?It uses many electric motors and propellers that give it vertical lift, so it can rise straight up and land anywhere without needing a runway.
4. Who made the BlackFly and when did it first appear?Canadian engineer Marcus Leng built it over nine years, and it was publicly unveiled in 2018.

VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing): A class of aircraft capable of hovering, taking off, and landing vertically, eliminating the need for a runway.
Personal Air Vehicle (PAV): A small aircraft designed for individual or small-group transportation, often with simplified controls and automated flight capabilities.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM): A developing sector focused on using aerial vehicles for transport within urban and suburban areas, often for short-distance travel.
Ultralight Aircraft: A category of aircraft defined by its low weight and typically simpler construction, often used for recreational purposes.