Paper plane

Diagram of a traditional paper plane.

A paper plane, paper aeroplane, or paper airplane is a toy plane made out of paper. It is also sometimes called aerogami, after origami (the Japanese art of paper folding). In Japanese, it is called 紙飛行機 (kami hikoki; kami=paper, hikoki=airplane).

It is popular due to the fact that it is one of the easiest types of origami for a novice to master. The most basic paper plane would only take at most six steps to "correctly" complete. The term "paper plane" can also refer to those made from cardboard.

Types of paper planes

Traditional

This type of paper plane usually takes a person seven steps (for correct procedure), but can take only five steps to complete without folding a guide to help divide a paper into two parts. A rectangular piece of paper such as A3, A4 or Letter (preferably A4 or Letter) would be used.

Instructions

1. The folder should leave a guide crease. This can be accomplished by laying the paper in portrait position and folding the left part of the paper over to the right so that it overlaps the other side completely. The folder should then crease the fold by running his thumb over the fold. This will make thefold permanent.

   

   A Traditional Paper Airplane being folded

2. The folder then should uncrease the sides again and fold the top left corner of the page so that it touches the crease in the middle, and vice versa for the right side.
3. The folder should crease the paper plane back to the position where the folder had left the guide marks, then they should put wings on the paper plane, the most vital part of this procedure.
4. Still in portrait position the person should fold the non-pointed bit of the paper plane (the bottom part) so it creases over the guide part but inverted outwards so that the wings are not internally in the paper plane but externally.

Aerodynamics

File:Usaf.b2.spirit.750pix.jpg

The B-2 Spirit is used by Blackburn as an example of a stable plane.

Although the DC-03 model has wings, the Guinness world record holder Tim Richardson disagrees with the decision to put a 'tail' on the paper plane. His explanation of paper plane aerodynamics on his website mentions that the tail is not needed. He uses the real-life B-2 Spirit flying wing bomber as an example, stating that the weights along the wing should be put forward in order to stabilize the plane. (Note: paper airplanes do not need a tail primarily because they typically have a large, thin fuselage, which acts to prevent yaw, and wings along the entire length, which prevents pitch.)

Independently, Edmond Hui invented a Stealth Bomber-like paper airplane called the Paperang in 1977 (http://paperang.com), based on hang glider aerodynamics. Uniquely, it has properly controlled airfoil sections, high aspect ratio wings, and a construction method designed to allow the builder to vary every aspect of its shape. It was the subject of a book, Amazing Paper Airplanes in 1987, and a number of newspaper articles in 1992. It is ineligible for most paper airplane competitions due to the use of a staple, but it has extremely high gliding performance exceeding glide ratios of 12 to 1 with good stability.

In 1975, origami artist Michael LaFosse designed a pure origami (one sheet; no cutting, glue or staples...) flying wing, which he named the "Art Deco Wing".

File:Art Deco wing.jpg

Though its aerodynamic form mimics some hang glider and supersonic airfoils, its invention evolved from exploring the beauty of folded paper first. Its glide ratio and stability are on a par with many of the best paper wing constructions that use glue, tape or staples. This design was first published in 1984 in the book "Wings and Things", by Stephen Weiss, St. Martin's Press.

Although it is a common view that light paper planes go farther than heavy ones, this is considered to be untrue by Blackburn. Blackburn's record-breaking 20-year-old paper plane (Instructions) was based on his belief that the best planes had short wings and are "heavy" at the point of the launch phase in which the thrower throws the paper plane into the air, and at the same time longer wings and a "lighter" weight would allow the paper plane to have better flight times but this cannot be thrown hard with much pressure into the air as a "heavy" weighted launch phase. According to Blackburn, "For maximum height and for a good transition to gliding flight, the throw must be within 10 degrees of vertical" — which shows that a speed of at least 60 miles per hour (about 100 kilometres per hour) is the amount needed to throw the paper plane successfully.

After the folding there are still gaps between different layers of folded paper (tearoff edge). These and the kinks transversal to the airflow may have an detrimental effect on aerodynamics, especially on the upper side of the wing. In some models the surfaces are not aligned to the direction of flow acting as airbreaks (notice the airbreaks of the B-2 in the picture above!). Typically the center of mass is at 1/4 and the center of area is at 1/2 of the plane lengths. Two method exist to shift the center of mass to the front. One rolls up the leading edge which then stays unswept. The other uses a swept wing or axial folding to produce something like a fuselage extending out of leading edge of the wing.

If you want to make a more advanced plane, first, fold the in the middle. Unfold. Fold the bottem up about 1/2 an inch. Do this until the top is about 2 inchs high. Turn over and turn upside-down. Make wings. Add fins.

World record

File:NASA Langley paper airplane.jpg

NASA launches the world's largest paper plane (at that time) - wingspan 30'6". 1992.

There are multiple goals for a flight:

• distance (javelin throwing)
• time (javelin throwing straight up with subsequent metamorphosis into a sailplane)
• acrobatic (looping)
• stable flight to understand flight mechanics of a good willing plane

For every goal there is a typical plane and sometimes a world record. [1]

There have been many attempts over the years to break the barriers of throwing a paper plane for the longest time aloft. Ken Blackburn held this Guinness world record for 13 years (1983–1996) and had regained the record on October 81998 by keeping his paper plane aloft for 27.6 seconds (indoors). This was confirmed by Guinness officials and a CNN report. The paper plane that Blackburn used in this record breaking attempt was a "glider".

External links

• The Online Paper Airplane Museum - over 700 free paper airplane designs.
• Ken Blackburn's Website Retrieved Nov. 15, 2004. (Frames Website)
• Joseph Palmer's Airplane Website
• Papierflieger Website in German
• Paper planes in English and in Hebrew
• Paperaircraft.com
• Simulation of aerodynamic of insects. Insects were mentioned by Ken Blackburn as close relatives to paper planes
  • Oxford
  • Cornell
• Website in English and in French
• Paper plane links With user ratings
• [http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/paper/airplanes