MAKEEXPERIMENT & BREAK #GWRSCIENCE Engineering students often FOR THE RECORD use paper aeroplanes to learn the principles of flight and aerodynamics. That’s Paper Planes SHOPPING LIST Multiple record-breaker why students and employees Ashrita Furman (left) of New of the Braunschweig Institute of This record-breaking challenge is really taking off – how York, USA, holds a paper Technology in Germany built the many home-made paper aircraft can you throw into plane record… in his mouth! largest paper plane in 2013. Ashrita and his friend Bipin It had a wing-span of 18.21 m a target area in three minutes? Be warned: time flies Larkin (USA) broke their own (59 ft 9 in) – as long as record for the most paper a bowling 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 Ashrita?! You’ve got three minutes to lob target. We’ve suggested YOU MUST USE: as many of them into a target one design (overleaf) zone as you can. but you don’t have - PAPER: A4 (210 x 297 mm) to use it – why or 8.5 x 11 in not get creative GUIDELINES and try a few • The planes you use must designs of With normal be a classic paper aircraft your own? aircraft, wings are design with recognizable shaped in such a way that air travels over the top wings and made from A4 of the wing at a higher speed paper (210 x 297 mm) or than the air beneath. The faster air US Letter paper (8.5 x 11 in). above the wing results in a drop in pressure compared with below the • The target range must wing. The difference in pressure consist of a circle with a is what causes the wing – diameter of no less than 6 m and the aircraft – to lift (19 ft 8 in). A bucket with a (see below). maximum diameter of no greater than 30 cm (11.8 in) Planes must hit the must be placed in the middle Lift bucket – NOT your of this circle to ensure that lab assistant! the distance between the Wing outer circle and the bucket You is 3 m (10 ft) from all points (experiment along the circle. with angles) 30 cm • Any planes that bounce out of the target bucket will be 3 m discounted from the total. HOW DOES IT WORK? TILTODAY I LEARNED Throwing paper planes As with regular big, metal Weight: Gravity is always Nose (a heavy nose = a stable flight) is an extreme sport! Since planes, paper aircraft are acting on the plane, pulling Drag 2006, x-sports fanatics Red affected by a number of it towards the ground. Bull have hosted the Red Bull forces as they fly: Drag: Friction with the air Thrust Paper Wings world paper plane championships. Three Thrust: This is the energy slows your plane’s forward Fast air above wing = disciplines are contested: you apply when you throw momentum. Consider tearing“elevator” and distance, hangtime and the plane, giving it its power. Experiment with the size lower pressure aerobatics. Could you Lift: What the flying plane and shape of your plane’s Weight folding up an be the next champ? experiences as air moves various elements – a heavier on each wing for over and under the wings, nose, longer wings or sleeker extra lift keeping it aloft. body will affect its flight. Difference in pressure = lift! WWW.GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM/SCIENCE GET THE BOOK MAKEEXPERIMENT & BREAK #GWRSCIENCE 8 9 Paper Planes (continued) 7 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 or as many different designs as you want (other ideas pictured below). Here’s one that we’ve used to get your attempt off the ground (1). To make it, start by folding the sheet in half along its length (2), then unfold (3). 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). 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1 Paper artists use a Bone folder “bone folder” to keep their folds as sharp and as neat as possible. You probably 4 5 6 don’t have a bone folder, but you can use a ruler or a credit card instead. (Or use the credit Take the top-right corner and fold it down to the centre fold to form a triangle (4). Repeat with the top-left corner (5). card to buy a bone folder! Then fold this newly formed triangle down, giving you a square (6). Ask permission first, of course!) Dart Bird of Prey 13 3141 5926 5358 9793 Delta Dragster Prof.Orbax Finally, open out the wings and you’re Glider ready to launch. Chocks away! Here’s a selection of other aeroplane designs. You’ll find some more folding guides on our website: Experiment with guinnessworldrecords.com/ the launch angle – science. You can use multiple copies of the same plane or throwing the plane a selection of designs. up as well as forward might help with your accuracy WWW.GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM/SCIENCE GET THE BOOK 117.