How to Make a Flying Wooden Glider

Cutting Out The Parts

• 1

  Mark a rectangle on the balsa wood that measures 10 inches by 2 inches, and cut it out with the craft knife to make the body of the glider. Sand the edges to ensure they̵7;re smooth. Measure in and mark 1 inch along the short sides and draw a straight line on the wood at this mark. Measure and mark a point 5 inches (halfway) along this line. Measure in 2 inches from the end along one of the long sides and mark the point. Draw a line to connect this mark to the mid-point mark and the end. Cut here and sand the edges to make the nose of the glider.

• 2

  Mark out a rectangle measuring 12 inches by 2 inches. Use the knife to cut out the rectangle before sanding the edges smooth; this will be the wing. Round off two of the corners, and sand the edges to create the front of the wing.

• 3

  Mark and cut a 2-inch-by-1-inch rectangle. Mark the center point of the long side, and measure in 1/2 inch on each of the short sides. Draw lines from these two points to the center mark you̵7;ve made, then cut and sand to make the stabilizers.

• 4

  Measure and cut a 1-inch-by-1-inch piece of balsa wood. Measure down 1/2 inch on one side. Draw a line from this point to one of the opposite corners, then cut and sand the piece to make the tail of the glider.

Assembling The Glider

• 5

  Measure and mark a point 1 inch to the left of the center point you've marked on the line on the fuselage, then measure and mark 1 inch in the opposite direction.

• 6

  Cut along the line between the marks, along the center line, making the cut just wide enough to enable the wings to fit through. Push the wings through gently until there̵7;s an equal amount of span on each side of the fuselage.

• 7

  At the tail of the plane, measure in 1 inch from the end along the center line and mark. Cut along this, making the gap just wide enough for the stabilizer. Push the stabilizer in gently, centering it on the fuselage.

• 8

  Glue the bottom of the tail (where it̵7;s widest) to the top rear of the body.

• 9

  Straighten a paper clip and wind it around the nose of the fuselage to add weight. Experiment with different weights to see which gives the best flight for the glider.