Flying taxis, crime-fighting drones and emergency service drones could all be a reality by 2030 thanks to the Government’s new Future of Flight action plan, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT). The plan is to have the first piloted flying taxi flight by 2026 and regular services by 2028, with regular drone deliveries across our skies by 2027.
Oracy
Imagine being able to catch a taxi that flies you to wherever you want to go. Wouldn’t that be exciting? Wouldn’t it be great to get a bird’s-eye view of your town as you nip across to your destination? Isn’t it also a good way to reduce traffic jams on our roads? Or are you nervous about the whole idea? Even if they are electrically powered, won’t they increase noise polution and upset birds? In any case, would you really want your view of the sky spoilt by more vehicles flying overhead? What do you think?
Writing skills
Imagine you took a flying taxi to school for the first time. Write a diary entry about your experience, detailing not only what you saw but also what you felt. Remember to use the first person and past tense.
Or
There are many idioms and other sayings that involve the sky, such as “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight” or “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Invent as many new versions as you can that involve a sky full of drones and flying taxis, either by adapting existing sayings or thinking up completely new ones. Remember to make them brief and either witty or wise (or both).
Investigate
Research the history of powered flight and summarise your findings by creating a timeline, showing when each key event happened.
What is First News?
To find out more about how First News could help your school unlock the power of news-based learning, through high quality, weekly resources alongside the print and digital newspaper, visit the First News Education website.