Paper Airplane Designs

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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
We are having a contest at work, for fabulous prizes

Planes compete for a distance prize, accuracy, and design(purtiness)

Paper is going to be provided, I am assuming it is middleweight 8.5 x 11

We are allowed to use weights, but no cardboard or foam(they suggested paper clips, tape, staples, and straws, but I dont believe that is an inclusive list)

Also from the email I just got it sounds like we can use more than one piece of paper per plane and can have multiple entires(i.e one for distance, one for design and one for accuracy)



I know we have an asston of engineers on this board, and more than enough 13 year olds. My EE pals arent doing a great job with this task so far, so anyone on here have any suggestions?
 
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InterpolAgent

Member
Dec 7, 2004
133
0
0
i know a perfect design for distance but i wouldn't know how explain or show you. too bad, it's a slick design and doesn't need any add ons, and flies straight and far.
 
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TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
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I have a book here - "The aerodynamics of paper airplanes" It has cut-out pages in the back for making planes. Want it?
 
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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I have a book here - "The aerodynamics of paper airplanes" It has cut-out pages in the back for making planes. Want it?
Click to expand...

Sure, gonna need it by tommorrow so want to start driving?
 
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TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
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Originally posted by: Turin39789
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I have a book here - "The aerodynamics of paper airplanes" It has cut-out pages in the back for making planes. Want it?
Click to expand...

Sure, gonna need it by tommorrow so want to start driving?
Click to expand...

That sucks. I can scan something for you if I get a cut of the prize, though.
 
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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
Originally posted by: logic1485
wish i had a scanner...i wanna show you a nice design :D
Click to expand...


personal design or one you found somewhere? I 've found a few online, mostly just straight paper, Id like to gind a few with ideas on weights.



Who needs a scanner, there is always mspaint!
 
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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Originally posted by: Turin39789
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
I have a book here - "The aerodynamics of paper airplanes" It has cut-out pages in the back for making planes. Want it?
Click to expand...

Sure, gonna need it by tommorrow so want to start driving?
Click to expand...

That sucks. I can scan something for you if I get a cut of the prize, though.
Click to expand...



prizes havent been announced , so i dont know how well they will cut.

apparantly a guinness world distance record holder was available online, but it seems to have been on a long gone geocities page, im still scrounging for that one
 
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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
I saw that double loop, dont have any straws here but can snag some from the cafeteria at work tommorrow, have high hopes for that one
 
Kyteland

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
5,747
1
81
The best "distance" design I have ever seen is to take the piece of paper and roll it up in to a tight tube. There is a way to launch it with your hands (and it takes a lot of practice to get it just right) so that it sails through the air like a spear. You get no lift, but since there is minimal drag it will go really far when enough force is applied. If you get the right arc with enough force it will beat out any "airplane" design.

It is because of this design that the Illinois Science Olympiad changed the rules of that event from a distance competition to an airtime competition, i.e. the airplane that stays in the air the longest wins.
 
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Turin39789

Lifer
Nov 21, 2000
12,218
8
81
"2. Each team will hold their own contests to see which plane constructed can fly the farthest, and which is the most accurate. Once this is determined, they will pick a representative to compete for their team in the Finals. Please select one plane per flying category. We will also be having a most creative category (original/attractive). All team members can enter this category.


PLANE CONSTRUCTION
?BE CREATIVE?

1. This is not a paper rock contest, nor is it a paper wad contest. The requirements are that the entries have wings or something that performs a similar function (in more technical terms, the planes must have a lifting surface). All judges? decisions are final in the legality of the aircraft.

2. You may use the following materials to help build your plane but please use only the paper provided, you may add weight to it using other items but no cardboard or foam or any material of that nature.
a. paper clips

b. tape

c. glue

d. staples

e. straws

3. No kits may be used. All associates must make their own paper planes. "
 
Kyteland

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
5,747
1
81
If you can use rubber bands then make some kind of wind up propeller. You can use a straw and duct tape to build a little frame, and make the propeller out of paper. Slap the right wings on there and get a good starting throw and it could give you quite a bit of extra distance.

I'm guessing that you can build this plane before hand, so you don't have to build it at the event in front of a judge. If so this could work.
 
virtuamike

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
You can use glue!! It's all over.

Make a mold for your wings and tail (air foil to give it lift) and layer the paper with glue to have it keep its shape. Using the same concept, fill the straw with glue and let it dry to keep it rigid and use it as the body.
 
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Rogue

Banned
Jan 28, 2000
5,774
0
0
I saw one once that was shaped like a flying ring with a triangular tail on the back. You used your index finger and middle finger to hold it and flicked your wrist to send it flying. That damn thing flew forever it seemed. It was a very simple design too.

FOUND IT! http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/napkin.html
 
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dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
Originally posted by: Rogue
I saw one once that was shaped like a flying ring with a triangular tail on the back. You used your index finger and middle finger to hold it and flicked your wrist to send it flying. That damn thing flew forever it seemed. It was a very simple design too.

FOUND IT! http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/napkin.html
Click to expand...

Used to make those back in grade school, they do work pretty well, only thing is depending on the balance of the rings to the triangle it fly's differently. I also have a book on paper airplane design, it's pretty cool, never got around to making most of them... but read through it. Swing by a bookstore on the way home and try out a few.

 
MaxDepth

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Originally posted by: Rogue
I saw one once that was shaped like a flying ring with a triangular tail on the back. You used your index finger and middle finger to hold it and flicked your wrist to send it flying. That damn thing flew forever it seemed. It was a very simple design too.

FOUND IT! http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/napkin.html
Click to expand...

Yup. Even better if you use a paper grocery bag. We flew those out of 3rd storey windows at our school. Caught a draft and flew down to the quad (aboot 100 yards).
 
CRXican

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
I have the urge to make a paper plane now but I can't help, the one I make does loops and such
 
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