Simple Cardboard Airplane

This is just a simple glider made out of cardboard. You can learn about the way an airplane flies, and how changing different parts of the airframe affect the way the airplane flies.

Hot Glue Gun

.25" Cardboard 12*12 Sheet

Laser Cutter

Scissors

Writing Utensil

Ruler

Download this file and cut out using a laser cutter.

Measure the flat leading and trailing edges of the wing, and make sure they are 10" and 6" respectively. Mark a line in the middle, going front to back. Then, make two parallel lines 1/8" from the middle line. This will serve as where our airframe and wings will attach.

Slide the wing in, lined up in the middle of the lines made in the previous step. Hot glue on top of the wing to hold it in place, and fill in any gaps between the airframe and the wings with the hot glue.

Slide the rear elevator in, and hot glue. It is not necessary to make markings for this, as the straight edge is the exact distance.

From the trailing edge, message from the airframe 1/8" out, and 3/4" up. Make a line 1 inch across then, a straight line back down to the edge. Cut, with a box cutter, the lines going parallel with the airframe. DO NOT CUT THE PERPENDICULAR LINE. Bend them, and these will act as an elevator.

Your plane is complete! Throw it lightly, and it will fly far. I made some extra modifications to turn it into rubber band powered, but it is not yet completed.