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Giant Paper Airplane

 fold it and fly with it!
 
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Hi Maria

Remember that ad about making your own colossal “paper” airplane to fly in Nevada? Well, yours truly called the number, went there and it’s all true! They help you make the scale 36:1 plane and to fly it yourself, if you dare.

Of course the first step is to make and test an airworthy paper model. Then you get assistance folding and riveting the full-size plane in sheet aluminum. If you opt to pilot it, an aerodynamic pod is attached at the balance point, and you take an intensive parachuting course.

The less expensive launch is done with a catapult-like “arm” from a high mesa. I chose the helicopter launch from 10,000 feet. That long, scary glide lasted less than a minute, but felt like hours. The adrenaline rush continued even after the pod released at the minimum altitude and my chute opened. As I floated above, screaming with joy, my creation did a perfect landing on the desert floor.

As soon as I get back, I’m going to save up to build a more advanced model that’ll do some loops. See you soon. Take care.

Frank

P.S. Check out my picture!

—FarmerJohn, Jun 23 2003

picture http://www.geocitie.../paperairplane.html
[FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Yomiko Readman http://www.devermor...anime/thepaper.html
From the Anime Series "Read or Die". Can fold paper into giant airplanes for two! [Cedar Park, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Paper Airplanes http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/
[DrBob, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Zorbist http://www.sanford-...s/vitruvian_man.jpg
[FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Um...Baked? http://www.gravitra...irplane-with-S2.jpg
[DrCurry, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

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       So, the one you fly is actually a giant aluminum airplane? Are you sure this will fly? I mean, I have a bunch of aluminum cans here, and not one of them could be considered 'airworthy'.... :)
—Cedar Park, Jun 23 2003
   

       After extensive testing with aluminum foil and an obliging ladybug, I’m absolutely confident that this just might work.
—FarmerJohn, Jun 23 2003
   

       I think I'll get my 7-year old son to make mine - mine do [UB]'s famous death spirals every time, his glide into the Arctic.
—PeterSilly, Jun 23 2003
   

       linky.

I once used a design from the linked site to run a 5 minute lecture during a teacher training course that I was on. At the end of it everyone had managed to create a decent paper airplane. No death spirals.
—DrBob, Jun 23 2003
   

       Why not ZORB it in a mega-catapult? Much safer and about as aerodynamic.
—FloridaManatee, Jun 23 2003
   

       There's a connection there. L. da Vinci drew gliders, and he also drew a naked guy in a Zorb.
—FarmerJohn, Jun 23 2003
   

       // Let's hope it's not one those dodgy designs that performs about 15 spirals before it nosedives into the dirt. //   

       No, I doubt it has a Die-By-Wire FCS designed by Airbus Industrie .......
—8th of 7, Jun 23 2003
   


 

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