How to Build a Small Model Airplane for Children

Most model airplanes take hours to complete and are too fragile for young children.

Model airplanes have been around for decades. According to Thepaperairplanecompany.com, magazines from 1908 and 1909 "had articles which described the use of paper models to explore the field of aerodynamics and to assist in the design of airfoils." Today you can purchase plastic model airplane kits and build any plane you want. These kits aren't always suitable for young children, however, because skill is required, they take hours to complete and are often fragile. You can make a simple model airplane that kids can play with and not worry about breaking using these directions adapted from highlightskids.com.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic foam tray
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Markers

Instructions

1. Draw an oval shape on the tray that is approximately 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. This shape will act as the wings. Beneath it draw the same oval, but with an upturned rudder sticking out of the back. The rudder should be 2 inches high and 1 inch wide. This shape will be the body of the plane.

2. Draw another oval that is 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. This is the horizontal stabilizer.

3. Cut out all the pieces that you drew on the foam.

4. Make a horizontal slit 3 inches long in the center of the body of the plane, 2 inches from the nose. Make another horizontal slit 1 inch long parallel to the first one just underneath the rudder.

5. Decorate the pieces of your airplane however you like with the marker.

6. Slide the first oval piece, the wings, through the 3-inch slit, being sure that each side of the wings is of equal length. Slide the horizontal stabilizer through the smaller slit and make the sides equal. Your plane is ready to fly.

References

• The Paper Airplane Company: Model Airplane
• Highlights Kids: Model Airplane