WonderLab celebrates Wright flight

WonderLab is commemorating the centennial of the Wright brothers' first successful flight with a flight-themed exhibit and activities. The celebration will last until Dec. 28.\nAlthough the actual flight, made by Orville Wright Dec. 17, 1903, lasted only 12 seconds, WonderLab program director Carrie Miller said the museum will celebrate all month long.\n"Science museums all over the country are marking this event and we wanted to participate how we could," marketing director Louise Schlesinger said. \nAccording to the First Flight Web site, Orville's Dec. 17 flight was named the "first" because it was the first time a machine had lifted a human being into the air by its own power, sailed forward without a reduction of speed, and landed at an elevation as high as the starting point. It lasted 12 seconds and took place in Kitty Hawk, N.C.\nWonderLab's commemorative exhibit "See It, Fly It, Draw It" offers visitors different ways to learn about flight. \n"See It" showcases nine historical model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, including a replica of the Wright Flyer, all made by Dave Rowland, retired principal of University Elementary School. A guidebook gives background and technological information about each plane. Rowland said he has been making model airplanes since he was 8 or 9 years old. He buys kits and crafts the airplanes out of wood. \n"In my home, I have about 25 or 30 model airplanes," Rowland said. "I gave some to WonderLab because I don't have any place to put them."\nThe airplanes in WonderLab include fighters from both world wars and Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." The planes' wingspans range in size from 30 inches to six feet. \n"Airplanes have come such a long way," Rowland said. "It's a special time to see the difference between what they looked like before and what they look like today. Part of everyone's future is flight."\nIn the "Fly-It" activity station, visitors can build and test out a variety of flying devices, such as paper airplanes, helicopters and parachutes. The exhibit is open on weekends and selected times on weekdays and will feature something different each weekend. Schlesinger said it offers visitors an opportunity to learn about aerodynamics and lift. \nThe "Draw-It" contest station is where visitors can draw an imaginary aircraft using whatever materials they want, and explain how their plane would work. The winners of the pre-kindergarten, elementary, teen and adult categories will be awarded prizes from WonderLab's gift shop in January. \nWonderLab's gift shop, named the "Best Place to Find Unusual Gifts in Bloomington" by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2003, is featuring several items having to do with flight. Visitors don't have to pay admission to enter the gift shop. \nWonderLab is located at 308 W. Fourth St., and is open to the public 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. General admission is $5.50 for children, $6.50 for adults and $6 for seniors. \nThough the flight exhibit is geared more toward elementary children, WonderLab is finding a lot of adults are getting into it, Miller said.\n"Maybe there's just something about flight that interests everyone," she said. "We're hoping that after 100 years, we can get the public in on this great celebration." \n-- Contact staff writer Hannah Schroder at hschrode@indiana.edu.