Paper Aeroplanes

Make your own paper aeroplane and use it to see how planes turn.
1. Collect some paper sheets and cut them like this.

You will need to be really accurate with your measurements - just like the real aircraft builders.

2. Lay your page out

3. Fold down six centimetres. 4. Fold down three centimetres.
5. Now fold in the corners
6. Fold the triangle in half and then fold out the wings. Staple where shown.

Fly the Plane!

Fly it in a open space where it won't collide with anything - including people! How does it fly?

Try drawing the pattern of its flight.

Now add a rudder.

7. Draw out this shape, measure it carefully and cut it out. 8. Now stick the shape onto your aeroplane like this.

Fly the Plane!

Bend your rudder to the left and fly your aeroplane. Now bend the rudder to the right and fly your aeroplane.

So now you know one way in which aeroplanes change direction! Have a look on how Planes fly to see the other way in which planes turn.

Project

Find a large sheet of paper and create a wall poster that explains how this works.
It helps to plan what you're going to say. (And on a poster, remember it needs to be short and snappy!)

Decide your colour scheme and the sizes of your writing.

Think about any photographs or illustrations you might want to include. Where will you put these?

Sometimes it helps to stand back from your work. Look at how the writing and illustrations fit together on the page. Are they attractive? Do they encourage you to read more?

And finally: does your poster really tell how an aeroplane turns in flight?
Important, isn't it?


Text and graphics courtesy of The Flight Experience, Sponsored by Bombardier Aerospace.