Fly Paper (oz16076)

About this Plan

Fly Paper. Free flight indoor model for rubber power. Wingspan 13 in. Uses paper construction.

Quote: "During the winter of 1966-67 the Scientific American held an event that has already taken its proper place in aeronautical history, the first international paper airplane competition. Several of the outstanding designs were published by Simon and Schuster in The Great International Paper Airplane Book. The work recalled old memories of constructing paper model airplanes during the Second World War when balsa wood was virtually unknown in the pine and cardboard kits of the day. A bunch of us got together and developed semi-scale models featuring a built-up box-type fuselage and semi-symmetrical wing construction. All of these models were gliders without the refinements of landing gear or power.

Although the general cost of living has gone up, the renumeration for baby-sitting, lawn-mowing, etc has remained pretty much the same since Grandpa's era. Fly Paper offers a practical solution for the beginning modeler who wishes to experiment with original designs at the lowest financial risk. Try it! If you don't like it - customize it!

Don't let the idea of an all-paper rubber-powered airplane lead you to the conclusion that it's in the same class as a fold-up paper glider. Although it will never perform like a contest ship, Fly Paper is an excellent machine to learn the fundamentals of trim adjustment since the flight surfaces can be easily altered. it is a fast and stable flyer that, unlike so many beginners' airplanes, seems to perform even better under fairly windy conditions. The prototype has survived collisions with houses, parked cars, and lighting fixtures of a school cafeteria.

Please! Read the entire article and study the plans carefully before beginning. The most important and difficult part of construction when building this airplane, as with so many, is the fuselage. Once this has been accomplished the remaining work takes only a few minutes. This is truly a model airplane that can be built and flown in the same day.

The original was assembled from a type of graph paper that happened to be on hand at the time. When the writer began the search for a similiar type and weight paper he checked with various stationery stores and blueprint companies and discovered the closest was a 24-lb weight paper. Although this seemed to be lighter in texture, the structure appears equally as strong and the flight characteristics obviously improved when the second model wound up on the house roof within a ten-minute period.

Construction begins with carefully measuring out two of the side patterns of the fuselage, remembering to reverse one side. Following the directions on the plans, score the fold lines with a dull knife. Join the two halves of the fuselage, overlapping the tail tabs with Ambroid or a similiar type airplane cement (I have found that white glue has a tendency to wrinkle the paper).

Fold the two halves of the fuselage together and overlap the nose formers, omitting the extra tabs as indicated in the plans. The downthrust and additional weight of a 3/4-in metal washer with a 1/4-in hole is necessary for good performance. Glue one to the inside of the nose former at this time. The remaining four formers are cut out, scored, folded, and glued into their proper stations.

For proper alignment, it is advantageous to glue the top of the fuselage into place first remembering to cut out the cockpit hole if desired. The 1/32-in wire landing gear is bent to the proper proportions and installed. Cut 1-in wheels from cardboard and smear glue on both sides for strength. Believe it or not, Fly Paper will ROG! (Rise off ground.) Although the entire bottom section could be installed at one time, it has been found easier to divide it at the wheel base, gluing the aft section first..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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