Paper pilots

© Girlguiding 2019 Registered charity number 306016.

Aim of activity Flying aeroplanes is a balancing act. Who can design the best paper plane and get the longest flight time?

What you’ll need • Alargesheetofpaper• Maskingtape• Apen

For each pair:• AsheetofA4paper• 5paperclipsWhat you’ll get out of it

• Createaneffectivepaperaeroplane.• Discoverhowweightaffectsaeroplaneflight.

Magnificent machines

20 mins

Jump straight in

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Before you start• Writeouttheflighttipsonalargesheetof

paper and display them.

• Markoutastartlinewithmaskingtapeononesideofyourspace.

Aeroplanesflyallovertheworld.Somecarrymorethan800people,whileothersflyover1,500milesinanhour,furtherthanLondontoItaly!Planesusetheirweighteddesign,strongenginesandairflowtostayhighinthesky.

What to doStartbygettingintopairstomakeyourpaperplane.TakeapieceofA4paper

and turn it so the short edge is at the top. Fold itinhalf,longsidetolongside,thenunfolditandturnitover,likeinpictureA.

Now,foldthetopcornersintothecentre,asinpictureB.Thenfoldthe

edgesinagain,asinpictureC.

Next,foldyourpaperinhalfsoitlookslikepictureD.Thenfoldtheedgeinon

each side, as in picture E.

Nowyou’rereadytotestyouraeroplanes! In your pairs, choose a

pilot.Allpilotslineuponthestartline.Readyset,launch!Howdidyourplanesfly?Markthe results on the floor.

Collectfivepaperclips.Byaddingweighttodifferentpartsofyourplaneitwillfly

differently.Tryaddingpaperclipstodifferentareasofyourplaneandtestiteachtime.Lookat the flight tips to help. You can add multiple paperclipstodifferentareastocreateaunique combination.

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Flight tips

• Weightunderthenosewillmovethecentreofgravityforward.

• Weightunderthetailwillpulltheplanenose up during flight.

• Weightonthewingswillmaketheplaneheavier.

Top tipTryattachingotherthings,likecoins,forabigger impact.

It’stimefortheultimatecompetition.Whoseplanewillflyfurthest?Swap

pilots, then line up at the start line and throwyourplanesoneatatime.Marktheresults on the floor.

Now,pilotslineupinorderofhowfaryourplanewent.Thepilotwhose

planewentthefurthestearnsonepoint,thesecondpilotearnstwopoints,andsoon.

Next,swappilotsinyourpair,andthrowyourplanesagain.Didthewinningorder

staythesame?Addyournewscoretoyouroldscore.Thepairwiththelowesttotalwins!

Whichplanewentthefurthest?Wherewereitspaperclips?Howelsecould

youmakeyourplanesflyfurther?

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Take it further Designyourownpaperplaneusingeverythingyou’vediscovered.

2019UMASFMF0315