Science
Related: About this forumThe Secrets of the World-Record-Setting Paper Plane
A: It looks really simple, but its the most technical plane Ive ever made.
I was down at Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif., testing paper airplanes in their new spaceship hangar. What was happening was that air was adhering farther back on the plane as it slowed down, and the air was coming off the wings at different places depending on how fast the plane was flying. I had never thought about that in terms of paper planes before. Initially, I didnt really know how to use that information.
But eventually it came to me, and the plane relies on a couple of things to do this trick: When you throw a plane really hard, you want a flat dihedral angle [the angle at which wings are attached to the body of the plane] because a flat dihedral angle causes less drag at higher speeds, like at the launch. More dihedral gives better stability during gliding, which happens at slower speeds.
So I used that designhaving a flat angle on the nose that moves up another 10 degrees on the wingtips, with the idea of air leaving the wing at different points based on airspeedto create the glider plane.
Read more: The Secrets of the World-Record-Setting Paper Plane - John Collins, Paper Airplane Guy - Popular Mechanics
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/diy-flying/the-secrets-of-the-world-record-setting-paper-plane-7013184
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)I've been a paper airplane fan for years, including origami versions. this is really neat.
athenasatanjesus
(859 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)The stuff of dreams.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)It's a simple design anyone can construct. Use the basic (classic) design but put in one extra fold. Throw it at about 50 degrees off horizontal and as hard as you can. Even wind won't stop it. It's also the most accurate I've found for target shooting. I made my first one in 3rd grade and I still don't know of a design that can beat it. Too bad I didn't know about this contest earlier. Don't trust me on this - MAKE ONE!
On Edit: Then again, just that there IS such a contest and we're WATCHING it means we all need a life.
lob1
(3,820 posts)However, if you shoot it and stick it to the windshield of a passing car, it can go a long way.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Gore1FL
(21,132 posts)HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Just do another tip-wing fold and the fucker will fly like I named it - an arrow.
OranicManic
(30 posts)There was a guy who did this in the late 70's, it flew a football field length. It was on 60 minutes, probably on Youtube.
JohnnyRingo
(18,636 posts)...no matter how it's done.
This is obviously the only way this can be achieved. I had no idea so much tech was behind the design.
If you hadn't posted this I would have missed this story. Thanx!
kag
(4,079 posts)Really cool. Thanks.