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How to Make an Airplane Glider Out of Wood

An airplane glider made from lightweight yet sturdy balsa wood--and a few other inexpensive items--can float in the air for long distances. Weight distribution and wing shape are the two most important factors in designing a wooden glider, so a heavy glider with a small wingspan will only stay in the air for a few seconds. With the proper plans, measurements and creative adjustments, however, you can make a glider that can successfully float with spirals and loops.

Things You'll Need

Sharp pencil
1 sheet 1/8-inch thick balsa wood
Ruler (optional)
1 sheet 1/32-inch thick balsa wood
Cutting board
Razor blade or utility knife
800-grit sandpaper
Protractor
Jumbo paper clip

Instructions

- 1
  Draw an 8-inch long teardrop shaped airplane fuselage on the 1/8-inch thick balsa wood. The widest part of the teardrop shape should be 2-inches across and it should gradually reduce to 1-inch across at the narrow end.
- 2
  Outline the pieces of your glider on the 1/32-inch thick balsa wood. Make a 10-inch by 3-inch wing, a 4-inch by 1-inch horizontal stabilizer and a 2-inch by 1-inch vertical rudder. Use a sharp pencil and ruler to get clear straight lines.
- 3
  Carve the fuselage, wing and stabilizer pieces out of the balsa wood on a cutting board using the razor blade or utility knife. Trim the horizontal stabilizer so it tapers to 1/2-inch wide at both ends and the vertical rudder so it tapers to 1/2-inch wide at one end. Sand the edges of the cut wood pieces with 800-grit sandpaper until smooth.
- 4
  Cut a 3-inch by 1/32-inch slit in the center of the fuselage that starts 2-inches behind the front tip of the thickest section. Make a second slit 1/2-inch in from the tip of the narrow end of the fuselage, or tail, that is 1-inch long by 1/32-inch wide. Slice the fuselage one last time along the 1/8-inch side edge of the balsa to make a 1-inch long by 1/32-inch wide slit in the narrow end of the fuselage, or tail, 1/2-inch in from the back tip.
- 5
  Flex the 10-inch wing gently lengthwise to arch it from the center to the edges at a 15-degree angle. Hold a protractor next to the bent wing to make sure the bend is within a degree or two of maximum variance.
- 6
  Insert the bent wing into the 3-inch slot in the fuselage so it is arched up like a rainbow. Slide the rear stabilizer into the slot at the back so the narrow ends protrude evenly from both sides of the fuselage. Push the wide end of the tail rudder down into the slot in the narrow side of the tail end.
- 7
  Slide a jumbo metal paper clip onto the tip of the wide end of the fuselage to balance the weight. Gently push the paper clip end forward as you release the glider on its first test flight. Bend and slide the wing into a variety of positions to change the flight pattern.

Wooden Toys