MAKE & BREAK

EXPERIMENT #GWRSCIENCE

Paper Planes
Enginee
ri
students ng
FOR THE RECORD often

SHOPPING LIST
use pap
e
to learn r aeroplanes
flight an the prin
da ciples o
f
Multiple record-breaker why stu erodynamics.
dents a T
Ashrita Furman (left) of New of the B nd emp hat’s
This record-breaking challenge is really taking off – how York, USA, holds a paper Techno
raunsch
logy
lo
weig In yees
stitute o
plane record… in his mouth! largest in Germany bu f
many home-made paper aircraft can you throw into pa
It had a per plane in 2 the
ilt
Ashrita and his friend Bipin wing-sp 013.
an of 18
a target area in three minutes? Be warned: time flies Larkin (USA) broke their own (59 ft 9
 in) – a .21 m
record for the most paper a bowli s long as
ng alley
when you’re against the clock. aircraft caught in the mouth
!

in one minute, with 17 – or

THE RECORD: Most times Paper planes – the bane of one every 3.5 sec! Bipin did
to hit a target with paper school teachers everywhere the throwing, while Ashrita
aircraft in three minutes – are actually a good way to did the catching, improving
learn about aerodynamics. on their record for the second
THE CHALLENGE: Fold one Some planes are designed time. They first achieved
or more paper planes – the for long flights and some for 14 planes back in 2011, then
design is up to you, as long as accuracy. It’s the latter you’ll 16 in 2012. Can you beat
it conforms to GWR guidelines need here, as this record is the unflappable
– and then start that stopwatch. about repeatedly hitting a
YOU MUST USE:
Ashrita?!
You’ve got three minutes to lob target. We’ve suggested
as many of them into a target one design (overleaf) - PAPER: A4 (210 x 297 mm)
zone as you can. but you don’t have
to use it – why
or 8.5 x 11 in
GUIDELINES not get creative
and try a few
• The planes you use must designs of With no
be a classic paper aircraft your own? aircraft, rmal
design with recognizable shaped wings are
that air in such
tr a way
wings and made from A4 of the w avels over the
in g a t top
paper (210 x 297 mm) or than the
a
a highe
r speed
US Letter paper (8.5 x 11 in). above th ir beneath. The
e fa
pressure wing results in ster air
co ad
wing. Th mpared with b rop in
• The target range must e differe elo
is what nce in p w the
consist of a circle with a causes ressure
th
the
and the e wing –

ust hit our

diameter of no less than 6 m aircraft
– to lift
m
(see be
s
(19 ft 8 in). A bucket with a
e
low).
maximum diameter of no Plan – NOT y
t
bucke istant!
greater than 30 cm (11.8 in)
s
lab as
must be placed in the middle
of this circle to ensure that
Lift
Wing
You
the distance between the
outer circle and the bucket
is 3 m (10 ft) from all points
(experiment
with angles)
)

30 cm
ight

along the circle.

le fl

3 m
b

• Any planes that bounce out

sta

of the target bucket will be

TIL
=a

discounted from the total.

ose
yn
eav

HOW DOES IT WORK?

ED
ARN
Y I LE
ah

TODA nes
paper pla
e(

Throwinegme sport! Sinced

Nos

As with regular big, metal
planes, paper aircraft are
affected by a number of
forces as they fly:
Thrust: This is the energy
you apply when you throw
the plane, giving it its power.
Lift: What the flying plane
experiences as air moves
over and under the wings,
keeping it aloft.
Weight: Gravity is always is an extr orts fanatics Reull
acting on the plane, pulling
Drag 2006, x-sp hosted th
e Red B
r
Bull haveWings world papheree
d
ing an r”
it towards the ground.
Drag: Friction with the air Thrust
t e a r Paper mpionships. T :
Fast air above wing = er to plane chanes are contestedd
Consid p an “eleva
slows your plane’s forward
discipli , hangtime an
lower pressure u r
folding ach wing fo
momentum. distancetics. Could you
Experiment with the size aeroba next champ?
o n e
lift
Weight be the
extra 
and shape of your plane’s
various elements – a heavier
nose, longer wings or sleeker
body will affect its flight. Difference in pressure = lift!

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MAKE & BREAK
EXPERIMENT #GWRSCIENCE

Paper Planes (continued)

9

Fold the top-left corner over so that the corner touches the centre fold (7). Repeat with the top-right corner (8). You should be
left with a small triangular point, which can be folded back (9).

3
1
2

You can only use one sheet of paper per plane, and you’re not allowed any glue or sticky tape.
You can use the same design 11
designs as you want (other ideas pictured below). Here’s one that we’ve used to get your attempt off
or as many different
in half along its length (2), then unfold (3).
the ground (1). To make it, start by folding the sheet

10
12
Flip the plane over and bring the two halves together along the centre fold (10). Next, fold the right-hand wing down until it
aligns with the centre fold (11) and repeat for the left wing (12).

Bone folder

1
Paper artis
ts use a

2
“bone fold
er” to keep
their folds
as sharp an
4 5

3
d as
6
neat as po
ssible. You
don’t have prob
a bone fold ably

4
you can us er, but
e a ruler or
card instea a credit
with the top-left corner (5).
Take the top-right corner and fold it down to the centre fold to form a triangle (4). Repeat
d. (Or use

5
card to buy the credit
a bone fold
Then fold this newly formed triangle down, giving you a square (6). Ask permis er!

6
sion first,
of course!)

Dart
Bird of Prey 13 93
58 97
26 53
3141 59 rbax
Delta Dragster Prof.O

Finally, open out the wings and you’re

ready to launch. Chocks away!
Glider

ith
Experiment w –
Here’s a se
lection of
other aero
plane design
gle
the launch an ne
You’ll find s.
folding guid some more

pla
es on our w

throwing the ard

guinnessw ebsite:
orldrecord
science. Yo s.co
u can use m m/
forw
up as well as your
copies of th ultiple
e same plan
e or
ith
a selection

might help w
of designs.

accuracy
WWW.GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM/SCIENCE GET THE BOOK 117