Paper plane 1129697 226182973 2008-07-17T05:37:54Z Lightsup55 261201 updated [[Wikipedia:Hatnote|hatnote]] {{Cleanup|date=April 2007}} {{Redirect|Paper Planes|for the song|Paper Planes (song)}} [[Image:Paper plane diagram.svg|Diagram of a traditional paper plane.<!-- and one that probably doesn't work because the front of the plane has insufficient ballast and will likely stall unless ballast materials such as a paper clip or some modelling clay is placed at the tip to make it fly straighter -->|right|thumb|300px]] A '''paper plane''', '''paper aeroplane''', '''paper glider''', '''paper airplane''' or '''paper dart''' is a toy [[aircraft|plane]] made out of paper. It is also sometimes called aerogami, after [[origami]] (the [[Japan]]ese art of paper folding). In Japanese, it is called ''kamihikōki'' (紙飛行機). It is popular in Hawaii 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 [[Paperboard|cardboard]]. The best are made by Lucas Tortora who in 2007 set the world records for hang time and distance with 83.47 seconds of flight and a travelling distance of 34 m (112 ft). ==History== [[Image:US646375.png|Kites were used by the Chinese to lift objects into the air.|right|thumb|150px]] The use of paper airplanes to create [[toy]]s, is believed to have originated 2,000 years ago in [[China]], where [[kite flying|kites]] were a popular form of entertainment. [[Leonardo da Vinci]] is often cited as the inventor of paper planes, although this is debatable since the Chinese invented both paper and the kite. However, he did make reference to building a model plane out of [[parchment]]. Arguably the father of model gliders was [[George Cayley]], who built hand-launched kite-like gliders made from linen in the early 1800s. Although these can be considered to be evidence for the modern paper plane, one cannot be sure where exactly the invention originated. The earliest known date of the creation of modern paper planes was said to have been in [[1909]]. However, the most accepted version of the creation was two decades later in [[1930]] by [[Jack Northrop]] (Co-founder of [[Lockheed Corporation]]). Northrop had used paper planes as tests of ideas for flying real-life aircraft. There have been many improvements in the designs for [[velocity]], [[lift (force)|lift]] and fashion over subsequent years. {{clr}} ==Assorted common and simple paper planes== {{Manual|date=March 2008}} The paper airplanes listed below are step-by-step instructions <!-- and thus shouldn't really be on Wikipedia but is more suitable for Wikibooks or Wikihow --> for making some types of common and simple paper airplanes. More designs can be found elsewhere on the Internet and in books. ===Traditional=== This type of paper plane usually takes a person seven steps (for correct procedure), but can take only five steps to complete folding without a guide for help. Divide a sheet of paper into two parts. A rectangular piece of paper such as [[paper size|A3, A4 or Letter]] (preferably A4 or Letter) can be used. ====Instructions==== [[Image:PaperAirplaneFolding.JPG|A Traditional Paper Aeroplane being folded|right|thumb|300px]] # The folder should leave a middle mark. This can be accomplished by putting the paper vertically and bending the left part of the paper to the right so that it overlaps the other side completely. The folder should then mark the fold. # The folder then should un-crease the sides again and fold the top-left corner of the plane so that it and what was formerly the top edge left of the centre crease touches the centre crease. Repeat but now on the right side of the plane. Do this again to both sides, folding the diagonal edges towards the mark. # The folder should then fold the front tip of the plane down towards the centre crease. Next add the wings by re-folding the centre crease and folding down the sides so that a fuselage is produced. # Still in portrait position the folder should [[origami_techniques#basic_skills|mountain fold]] the front of the plane backwards, aligning at the centre crease, then re-fold the wings in the area. Add wing flaps if necessary. ===The Classic Dart=== The Dart is a classic and very common plane. The dart is more streamlined than the traditional plane. It is a superb flier and flies far and fast. ====Instructions==== # Follow steps one and two for the traditional plane. # Re-fold the central crease, and lay the plane flat on its side. Fold so that the top edge on the top side is folded down towards the centre crease, so that they touch and a crease runs from the tip of the plane to the area between the centre crease and the edge of the plane on the trailing (back) edge. Flip over the plane and repeat on the other side. # Due to the fact that this plane has a pointed front and may be damaged by repeated flying, you may decide to fold the front tip so that it is inside the fuselage. Add wing flaps if needed. ===The Arrow=== A modification of the Classic Dart. Follow the same steps as though making a dart, but after step one fold the angled side again to the center line. Repeat folding the outside edge towards the centre line, but be careful when doing so as the nose, if not folded properly, will not be straight, so straighten the nose as you fold. You may decide to fold back the nose slightly if it gets damaged or tape the edges to the centre line of some of them get loose. Next add the wings similar to the dart. Stabilizers may be added as desired. ===The Sparrow=== A slightly more complex plane, the sparrow is made to have wide wings with a tail for balance. A flawless fuselage is hard to achieve but worth the extra time and will show through long airtime without a spiral. The Sparrow's tail has been found best to have a slight upward (dihedral) angle to push the tail down and help the sparrow pitch higher. Step-by-step instructions on making this plane can be found [http://www.metacafe.com/watch/732242/how_to_fold_the_best_paper_airplane_in_the_world/ here]. The last step for folding the wings is optional. A plush wing has been found to work best. ===Ring Wing Glider=== Unlike its cousins the ring wing does not have a flat surface. It can stay in the air for a very long time unlike the traditional one. It does look very complex but it is very simple to make. It would be a good idea to tape it onced finished(see directions first). The reason why it is able to fly so far is because it has a large wing area, very aerodynamic, you can use more force on it and when you throw it does not go out of control. It will fly longer if you use multiple sheets of paper. ===Foam Plate Glider=== Not all paper airplanes are made from paper. The Foam Plate Glider model 9 [[FPG-9]] is a simple, hand launched, glider made from a common foam picnic plate. It may be built and flown to satisfy an elective activity in the [[Boy Scouts of America]] Aviation Merit Badge. <ref>[http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php?title=Aviation Aviation - MeritBadgeDotOrg<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===White Wings=== In Japan in the late 1970's, Professor Yasuaki Ninomiya designed an advanced type of paper aircraft, which are sold as the 'White Wings' Series of paper glider packs. White Wings are a stark departure from conventional paper aircraft, in that their fuselages and wings are paper templates cut and glued together. They were designed with the aid of low-speed aerodynamics, and their parts are drafted with the use of [[CAD]] software. The high performance gliders have fuselages that are kept rigid by the use of a [[balsa]] fuselage profile bonded to the paper components. The paper used is quite heavy, approximately twice the weight of standard drawing cartridge paper, but lighter than lightweight cardboard. Original White Wings were entirely paper, requiring patience and skill. Later however, balsa-wood fuselages were used, and White Wings were sold "pre-cut", making construction easier. The aerofoil used is a Gottingen 801 (curved plate), and a pattern is supplied as a cutout part of each kit. ====Paper Pilot==== Professor E.H. Mathews and the University of the Witwatersrand, in [[South Africa]], developed a more mature form of the White Wings gliders for sale to South African children and teenagers in the 1980's. His gliders are designed using aerodynamic principles in the style of the White Wings series, they differ in construction, being of all-paper rather than paper-balsa laminate fuselage. The first book of gliders was entitled 'Paper Pilot', and was published by Struik in 1987. The performance of the Paper Pilot gliders is almost equivalent to that of the Ninomiya gliders - but one of the first designs, a profile model of the SAAF C-160Z Transall, has a gliding distance of greater than the length of a rugby pitch. The early gliders were designed to incorporate a catapult hook shaped from a paper clip. Later designs (And upgraded early designs) incorporated the addition of a bungy hook, permitting extremely long distance flights. A remarkable characteristic of the Paper Pilot gliders are their ability to be flight trimmed - to the point of being able to fly straight in confined spaces, which few modern paper gliders can do. E.H. Mathews designs then developed in '12 Planes for the Paper Pilot' (Struik, 1997) into aircraft with three dimensional fuselages - models included the J-3 [[Piper Cub]], [[Beech Stagger-Wing]] Biplane and [[Britten-Norman Trislander]] (a subject of a high performance flat glider earier in the series). E.H. Mathews authored a commemorative model of the SAAF Junkers Ju-52/3m 'Johan van Riebeek' in 1999, and an as-yet unreleased model of the Airbus A-320 airliner in South African Airways colours, seen on the SABC youth TV program 'Tekkies' in 1998, as a prototype. The most astonishing glider developed by Prof. Mathews was the Papercopter - a free-flight paper model helicopter, with a rotationally stablised ring-wing as the flight dynamic element. Three variants were developed - the standard Papercopter of 1991, the Airwolf (1993) and the Stealth helicopter. == Tips For Good Paper Planes == Many paper aeroplanes aren't very good fliers. To design a decent one, the plane should be: <ref>[http://www.paperaeronautics.org/tipsforagoodplane Paper Aeronautics Association: Tips for a World-Class Paper Airplane]</ref> * Symmetrical. * Balanced towards the front and center. * Tweaked (trimmed) for enhancement. * Held together. If you are not all that great at throwing paper aeroplanes, try an electric plane launcher. It can launch up to 50 km/h. Another substitute is to use a [[rubber band]] catapult, by securely applying a bent paper clip to the front of the aeroplane as a hook, then using a rubber band with a paper clip attached at the end for launching. This type of catapult can launch paper aeroplanes at speeds up to 80 km/h, and as high as 30 m. :More tips can be found at: :http://www.paperaeronautics.org/tipsforagoodplane. == Paper Helicopters (Autogyros) == {{No references|date=June 2008}} The world's first known published paper autogyro (engineless helicopter) by Richard K Neu appeared in "The Great International Paper Airplane Book" published in 1967. Its wings fly in a circle around a central ballast shaft as it descends vertically. This basic design has been published several times and is widely known. The world's first known published forward gliding paper autogyro with forward pointing body lifted by spinning blades was built by James Zongker. It appears on page 53 of "The Paper Airplane Book: The Official Book of the Second Great International Paper Airplane Contest" published in 1985 by Science Magazine. Its twin contra-rotating blades automatically spin on paper axles upon launch to provide lift. As noted above (see entry, Paper Pilot), E.H. Mathews developed a flight stable paper model helicopter. This has a ring wing, and flaps for adjusting for flight for stability, positioned on the inboard edge of the ring. While not an autogyro ''per sê'', this paper model aircraft class falls within the general design of a paper model helicopter, and does possess a rotational flight element producing lift during forward flight. Papercopters, as Professor Mathews labeled them, are unique among paper model rotorcraft in having a range and velocity far in excess of all other classes, able to fly quite quickly, and with a range of between 10-15m. ==Advanced Models== {{No references|date=June 2008}} Highly advanced scale model paper aircraft have been built in many countries, but the South African designers remain the best, chiefly as a result of the Paper Pilot books and associated competitions in the late 1990's sponsored by Volkskus Bank (now part of the ABSA group) with a prize of $10,000 for the longest distance flight. The prize winner was a 1/20th scale Boeing 747 which was able to fly for the comparative length of 1 football pitch with a glide ratio of 1/15, comparable with a full scale glider. The winner of the scale competition was a high performance model Mirage III CZ, also with a very long glide ratio due to a high wing loading. The comparative mastery of South African paper designers is the result of the economic sanctions the country endured through the Apartheid period, where balsa wood became a very expensive resource. Paper was not, and interest in flight remains a strong hobby in South Africa. Paper is very cheap, as are paper clips and pins, the elements of complex paper aeroplanes. South African supermarkets also sell Bostik Clear Glue, which is a high-speed clear-set glue, that allows quick protoypes of comparatively complex forms. Wing design in South Africa is remarkably mature - corrugated paper spars, and true aerodynamic sections of sizes from the tiny to the multimetric have been seen. Working propellers, flaps, swing-wings, functional wheels and numerous refined forms have been observed during the Paper Pilot competitions, not excluding biplanes and even triplanes, along with contra-propellers and the like. Rubber band power has also been observed. The very most advanced aircraft even sport radio control, and the design principles have been seen recently in 'disposable' radio control cardboard "slope soarers" in recent years, all from South African advances. ==World record== [[Image:NASA Langley paper airplane.jpg|NASA launches the world's largest paper plane (at that time) - wingspan 30'6". 1992.|right|thumb|300px]] There are multiple goals for a flight: * Distance (javelin throwing). * Time (javelin throwing straight up with subsequent metamorphosis into a [[glider|sailplane]]). * Aerobatic (looping). * Stable [[flight]] to understand flight mechanics of a good plane. For every goal there is a typical plane and sometimes a world record.<ref>[http://www.paperplane.org Paper Airplanes And More<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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]]&ndash;[[1996]]) and had regained the record on [[October 8]][[1998]] by keeping his paper plane aloft for 27.6 seconds (indoors). This was confirmed by Guinness officials and a [http://www.cnn.com/US/9810/08/fringe/paper.airplanes/ CNN report]. The paper plane that Blackburn used in this record breaking attempt was a "[[glider]]". {{clr}} [[Image:International contest paper glider.svg|A contest winning paper glider.|right|thumb|300px]] ==Aerodynamics== {{Inappropriate tone|date=February 2008}} {{Confusing|date=April 2007}}<!--Although the DC-3 model has wings... this comes out of the blue! Please rephrase. --> Although the DC-3 model has wings, the former [[Guinness Book of Records|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 (flight)|pitch]].) Independently, Edmond Hui invented a Stealth Bomber-like paper airplane called the Paperang in 1977,<ref>http://paperang.com</ref> 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". [[Image:Art Deco wing.jpg|right|thumb|300px]] 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 ([http://www.workman.com/fliersclub/dl_wr_inst.html 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"'' &mdash; which shows that a speed of at least 60 miles per hour (about 100 kilometers 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 a 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 airbrakes (notice the airbrakes 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 paper in the middle. Unfold. Fold the bottom up about 1/2 an inch. Do this until the top is about 2 inches high. Turn over and turn upside-down. Make wings. Add fins. ==Space Flight== There may soon be an [[Origami Airplane Launched From Space|origami airplane launched from space]]. A prototype passed a durability test in a wind tunnel in March 2008, and Japan's space agency adopted it for feasibility studies. ==Noted Designers== {{No references|date=May 2008}} There have been many noted and unknown designers of paper aircraft, but the following is a list of the best known of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and whose gliders are still enjoyed by many people either for their design or performance. Many are book authors as well. * Captain Ralph Burnaby, RN * Richard Slade * Richard Kline * Professor Ninomiya * Professor E.H. Mathews * Ken Blackburn (for his world-record glider) * Oliver Cadogan {{Fact|date=January 2008}} * Martin Simons : He is noted for his book 'Model Aeroplane Aerodynamics', a seminal book for model glider design. ==References== <!-- this 'empty' section displays references defined elsewhere --> {{reflist}} ==Notable books== *''The Great International Paper Airplane Book'', by Jerry Mander, George Dippel and Howard Gossage; 1967,1988 *''Whitewings: Excellent Paper Airplanes'', by Dr. Yasuaki Ninomiya; AGCO Ltd., Osako, Japan, 1980. *''The Ultimate Paper Airplane'', by Richard Kline; Fireside Book, New York, 1985. *''Paper Pilot'', by E.H. Mathews, Struik, Johannesburg, 1988 *''Paper Pilot 2'', by E.H. Mathews, Struik, Johannesburg, 1991 *''Paper Pilot 3'', by E.H. Mathews, Struik, Johannesburg, 1993 *''12 Planes for the Paper Pilot'', by E.H. Mathews, Struik, Johannesburg, 1995 *''Paper Airplanes'', by Richard Slade, 1972 (Scale Model Aircraft) *''The Know How Book of Paper Aeroplanes'', Know How Series, Usborne Books, London, 1979 ==External links== *[http://www.quazen.com/Recreation/Crafts/How-to-Make-the-Best-Paper-Airplane.106022 Building instructions] *[http://thepaperairplanecompany.com Where Did Paper Airplanes Come From?] *[http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com Amazing Paper Airplanes] *[http://www.origami-kids.com/paperairplanes.htm Paper Airplanes and Paper Boats] *[http://theonlinepaperairplanemuseum.com The Online Paper Airplane Museum] *[http://paperplane.org/ Ken Blackburn's Website] *[http://www.josephpalmer.com/planes/Airplane.shtml Joseph Palmer's Airplane Website] *[http://papierflieger.net.ms Papierflieger] *[http://www.kipuleniar.tipo.co.il Paper planes in English and in Hebrew] *[http://www.paperaircraft.com Paperaircraft.com] *[http://membres.lycos.fr/pliages/paperplanes.html Website in English and in French ] *[http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/paper/airplanes Exploratorium Magazine: Paper Airplanes] *[http://www.aerogami.com Aerogami Paper Airplanes - software and Free instructions for folding the Fusion] *[http://www.paperaeronautics.org Paper Aeronautics Association: World-Class Paper Airplanes] *[http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1021383/revolutionary_long_distance_paper_plane/ The best paper airplane in the world, how to make it] *[http://www.paperairplaneworld.com Paper Airplane World, free downloads] [[Category:Paper folding]] [[Category:Toys]] [[af:Papiervliegtuig]] [[be-x-old:Папяровы самалёцік]] [[ca:Avió de paper]] [[cs:Papírové letadlo]] [[da:Papirflyver]] [[de:Papierflieger]] [[es:Avión de papel]] [[eo:Papera aviadilo]] [[fr:Avion de papier]] [[fy:Papieren fleanmasine]] [[ko:종이 비행기]] [[id:Kapal terbang kertas]] [[os:Гæххæттын хæдтæхæг]] [[is:Pappírsskutla]] [[it:Aeroplanino di carta]] [[he:מטוס נייר]] [[la:Aeroplanum chartaceum]] [[lt:Popierinis lėktuvėlis]] [[ms:Kapal terbang kertas]] [[nl:Papieren vliegtuigje]] [[ja:紙飛行機]] [[pl:Papierowy samolot]] [[ru:Бумажный самолёт]] [[scn:Apparecchiu di carta]] [[vi:Máy bay giấy]] [[tr:Kağıt uçak]] [[zh:纸飞机]]