Author: Gareth

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Structure: ‘Modals 5’

Time references for modal verbs

Adding to what we saw previously, we look at the time reference for our modal verbs in each of their uses. Looking at our diagram below, we can see that to talk about ability in the past we use ‘could’ and in the present we use ‘can’.

Ability in the future?

Then how do we talk about ability in the future? Well, in the future we use ‘be able to’.

eg. By next year I’ll be able to fly three single engine aircraft.

‘Be able to’ isn’t a modal verb so it isn’t in our list, but we can use it with a similar meaning to a modal verb with time references unavailable to our modal verbs (i.e. not just future, but also with present perfect, after ‘would’ etc…).

Time reference for modal verbs.
Time reference for modal verbs.

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Video answers: ‘SR-71’

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. Mysterious, enticing, menacing and sleek are the adjectives used to describe it.
  2. It was needed to conduct reconnaissance missions at very high altitudes and at very high speeds.
  3. No, other aircraft could get to 80,000ft, but only temporarily whereas the SR-71 could fly at a level attitude at 80,000ft.
  4. Its speed was its best weapon, flying faster than Mach 3.
  5. It was used over north Vietnam and over North Korea.

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Video: ‘SR-71’

Fly High English - Video

This week’s video is about the SR-71. The world’s fastest aircraft used by the US military between 1966 and 1990. Watch the video to find out more about it.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. What adjectives are used to describe the SR-71?
  2. Why was the SR-71 needed?
  3. Was the SR-71 the only aircraft capable of flying at 80,000ft?
  4. What was the SR-71’s strongest weapon?
  5. Where was the SR-71 used?

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Have a great weekend!

WORLDS FASTEST Aircraft US Air Force SR-71 Blackbird Mini Documentary

A great Mini Documentary video on the world famous US Air Force aircraft the SR-71 Blackbird that was used for observation flights over the Soviet Union. BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.–Twenty-six years ago today, Beale said goodbye to the fastest air-breathing jet in the world, the SR-71 Blackbird.

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Structure: ‘Usually fly, used to fly, used to flying’

Fly High English - Structure

This time in our structure help we talk about the different between three structures with similar forms but very different meanings, ‘usually fly, used to fly, used to flying’. Have a look at the diagram below for information about what each one means and how to use them. Then try to write some examples of you own.

Diagram explaining the differences between 'usually fly', 'used to fly' and 'used to flying'.
The differences between ‘usually fly’, ‘used to fly’ and ‘used to flying’.

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Have a great day!

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Video answers: ‘Transforming the jet engine’

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. They’re loud, use a lot of fuel and aren’t good for the environment.
  2. The problem is that neither the fan at the front, nor the turbine at the back are operating at their most efficient speeds.
  3. His change was to introduce a gearbox into the shaft of the engine which allows the fan to spin more slowly and the turbine more quickly.
  4. It made the engine 15% more fuel efficient and up to 75% quieter.
  5. They’ll save around $1.5M dollars per plane per year.

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Video: ‘Transforming the jet engine’

Fly High English - Video

This week’s video describes a revolution in jet engine design. Watch the video to find out what it is and how it could change jet engines forever.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

  1. What are some of the disadvantages mentioned in relation to jet engines?
  2. What’s the problem with the design of current jet engines?
  3. What was Mike McCune’s simple, yet radical change to the jet engine?
  4. What effect did the change have on the engine?
  5. How much will the airlines save with this new design?

Follow us on twitter here, Facebook here or Google+ here for more great content!

Have a great weekend!

This Genius Invention Could Transform Jet Engines

Mike McCune is an engineer with Pratt & Whitney, the airplane manufacturer. After 30 years of development, he’s created a gearbox for a jet engine that makes them 75% quieter and 15% more fuel efficient. That’s a savings of about $1.5 million per airplane each year.