Seeing one of these planes soar gracefully overhead re-defines your perception of the three-dimentional space above. It even re-defines us: we are creatures living at the bottom of an ocean of air.
All my 6th grade students-- over 250 of them every year-- make this project from scratch. Thin strips of balsa wood are challenging to work with, but when the kids put their finished creations to flight there are no words to describe the joy.
The latest development to this project is making high performance propellers from ordinary paper clips and the plastic from 2-liter bottles.
Here are a couple of short (5 second) MPG videos of the planes flying in the gym of the school where I teach. Unless you have a fast internet connection you should right click and "save target as" and remember where you saved it. Video 1 and Video 2.
I have switched to a modification of Darcy White's "Squirrel." I defer to his instructions until I finish my own version that is easier for people with no experience to build.
INSTRUCTIONS
For illustrated instructions to make
rubber powered airplanes click here or on the
picture. |
MORE ABOUT PLANES AND FLYING
For explanations, activities and cool links related to planes
and flying click here or on the picture. |
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