How to Make Glider Planes

Paper airplanes are cool, but they don't fly very far. If you want to really enjoy the thrill of flight, take things up a notch and build a toy glider. You can launch your glider by hand from the ground, or throw it from a hilltop or window to get a longer flight. Use cardboard to experiment with different designs. Then, when you find one you like, try building it out of balsa.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Glue
• Paper clips
• Pennies

1. Draw a fuselage on a piece of cardboard. It should be about the same shape as a real plane.

2. 
    

   Cut two slots out of the fuselage for the wing and tail. The should be about as wide as a sheet of cardboard.

3. Cut out a wing and a tail. Each should be a rectangular, and wide enough to fit snugly in the hole you cut the wing.

4. Measure the wing with a ruler and find the exact center point. Make a mark on it with the pen. Do the same thing with the tail.

5. Slide the wing into the glider so that it is centered as exactly as possible. Use a drop of glue to hold it in place. Do the same thing with the tail.

6. Throw the plane. The plane will probably stall and flutter to the ground. If it does, add some ballast to the nose. Either fasten a few large paperclips to it, or glue pennies on.