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How to Build a Paper Plane Launch Pad

Ken Blackburn, 1998 Paper Airplane World Record holder, attributes the earliest form of paper airplane (the kite) to the Chinese 2,000 years ago. In more modern times, pioneering aircraft designer Jack Northrop used paper airplanes in the 1930s to experiment with designs for his famed "Flying Wing." Today an untold number of paper airplane designs are available. We are still in the pioneering days of the paper plane pad.

Things You'll Need

12 x 18 x 1/4-inch plywood launch pad platform
9 x 9 x 1/4-inch plywood base
Two 6.75 x 9 x 11.25 x 1/4-inch triangle plywood legs
5/8 x 3/8 x 1/16 (1/4-inch inside) x 18 inch launch rail (extruded aluminum channel) (See Brunner link for illustration)
Table, jig or hacksaw
Electric drill
12 1/2-inch flat topped wood screws
Screwdriver
Hammer
Brad
Wood glue
8- to 10-inch rubber band or 16- to 20-inch length of 1/16-inch elastic cord
Paper airplane
1 x 2.5 inch piece of scrap plastic
Stapler
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Use the table, jig or hacksaw to cut a 12 x 15 x 1/4-inch plywood launch pad platform, a 9 x 9 x 1/4-inch plywood base and two 6.75 x 9 x 11.25 x 1/4-inch triangle plywood legs.
- 2
  Fasten the 9-inch side of the two plywood triangle legs to the 9 x 9-inch base with the wood glue and wood screws (two screws per side). Use the electric drill to pre-drill the holes for the wood screws, then use the screwdriver to insert the screws.
- 3
  Measure in three inches from each side of the 12-inch width on the bottom of the launch pad platform, marking it top to bottom with pencil and straight edge. This will give you guides to attach the triangle legs and base to the launch pad platform.
- 4
  Fasten the launch pad platform to the 11.25-inch side of the triangle legs using the pencil lines as a guide, then fasten using wood glue and two wood screws per triangle. Use the electric drill to pre-drill the holes for the wood screws, then use the screwdriver to insert the screws.
- 5
  Measure in 7.25 inches from the left of the launch pad platform, marking it top to bottom (on the 18-inch side) with pencil and straight edge. This will give you a guideline for an extruded aluminum launch rail.
- 6
  Align the left side of the 18-inch aluminum launch rail with the pencil line you just drew, then fasten the rail to the launch pad platform with wood glue. Use the electric drill to pre-drill the holes for the wood screws, then use the screwdriver to insert the screws.
- 7
  Hammer in the brad just beneath the aluminum launch rail on the edge of the launch pad platform, then loop the rubber band or tie elastic around it.
- 8
  Fold a conventional paper airplane from an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper and insert the plastic scrap in the nose of the paper plane, staple it, trim the excess, then cut a 1/4-inch angled slot 2.5 inches back from the tip of the plane's nose.
- 9
  Launch the plane by holding the tail of the paper plane, hooking the nose slot into the rubber band/elastic, and drawing it back the full length of the 18-inch aluminum launch rail in the center of the launch pad platform. Release, and see it fly.

Aviation