Experiments with the Wing Shape of a Paper Airplane

Flight Basics -- Effects of Wing Design

• Before working on other experiments, understanding the dynamics that govern flight and the role of wings is essential. For this experiment, you need to create three different paper airplanes. The first one will be your control. Fold one of the wings on the second one, and roll the wings of third one using a pencil. Throw the three paper airplanes and record the distances and flight patterns. Try to throw each plane using the same amount of power for better accuracy. Once the data have been recorded, decide on what type of wing can be best for flight.

Speed Experiment ̵1; the Dart

• This experiment requires two paper airplanes. Fold the first one using the common design and fold the other one using the dart design. Both fold designs are easily accessible online. Using the same amount of force, throw both airplanes and record the distances. In addition, record the time the planes leave your hand and land on the ground.

  The dart is a wing shape designed for speed, but it sacrifices the plane̵7;s capability to fly long distances. Because the wingspan of the dart is not very big, this makes it impossible for the plane to glide long distances because there simply is not enough lift under its wings to enable it to do so.

Long Flights -- Seagull

• This experiment will teach students on how to design a wing that̵7;s geared toward long flight. Again, create two paper airplanes. The control follows the basic design, while the other one uses the seagull design. The seagull has a larger and more aerodynamic wing when compared to a basic paper plane, allowing it to fly farther, although possibly slower than the basic one. The bigger wingspan gives it better lift and allows it to glide farther. Take note of the results and compare.

Loops -- The Stealth

• Paper planes can also do some stunts, such as aerial loops, if they are designed and thrown properly. Although folding the back wings of a traditional paper plane upward can make a plane do a loop, there are specific designs that are made for stunt planes. One such design for a stunt paper plane is the stealth, which is named after one of the earliest real stealth planes in the U.S. military. With its aerodynamic design, the stealth also has the components of a good glider. Although the plane would not be very fast, the stealth can get a good flight distance as long as it is thrown correctly.