The Challenge:

Put your aerodynamic engineering skills to the test as you are invited to take part in the HEROES IN STEM Paper Flight Challenge.

MISSION: Create a paper airplane using our template sheet supplied on the day.

Will your paper airplane fly the furthest in our Heroes In STEM challenge?

■ The paper airplane template is a standardised sheet that will be given to you at registration on the day. Only the standard airplane template will be allowed in the competition; no other resources will be allowed.

■ Young people will be allowed 1 airplane template each so make sure you practice your designs before the event! You will have 1 attempt only.

■ Only entries with the name and school (if relevant) clearly marked will be eligible.

■ The competition is judged on the plane that travels the furthest distance from the start point.

■ 10.30am-13.00pm The window of opportunity to make your flight attempt.

■ 13.30pm Mass Airplane Flight! Anyone with a plane is welcome as we attempt to get over 500 paper airplanes airborne at once!

■ 13.45pm The Award for Longest Flight presented

The Great Paper Airplane Recycling Project:

The individual with the longest recorded flight distance will receive a prize donated by RAF Museum Cosford.

Paper Flight Challenge

PRIZE

Rules and Resources:

Don’t forget - Check out the AERODYNAMICS tips and theories on the back of this sheet

Flight Challenge Schedule

Designed and created by Learn by design www.learnbydesign.co.uk for the Big Bang Near me Programme events.

GIANTMODEL

2016

At the end of the Flight Challenge all of the paper airplanes flown together in the final mass flight will be collected up and over the course of the year will be pieced together to make 1 giant paper airplane which we will display and attempt to fly at Heroes in Stem 2016!

Aerodynamic Lift - Newton’s Law of Motion

Motion:Lift occurs when a moving flow of air is turned by a solid object. The flow is turned in one direction and the lift is generated in the opposite direction, according to Newton’s Third Law of action and reaction.

For an aircraft wing, both the upper and lower surfaces contribute to the flow turning or the downwash.

A Classic large-wingspan shape that flies fast and straight. The wide delta wing pattern generates good lift and gliding capabilities while the wingtip and tail design encourages a straight and stable flight path.

A short compact wingspan allows this classic shape airplane to fly straight as an arrow. Up-elevation can be added by cutting wing flaps into the back of each wing.

DRAG: The force that opposes forward motion of an aircraft in flight.

Design Tip: The more pointed and slim the shape of the airplane, the quicker it will fly. The more flat and shallow the shape of your airplane, the longer it will stay in the air.

LIFT: An aerodynamic force generated by the shape of the wings that ‘pushes’ the aircraft into the air.

Design Tip: The larger the wing area on your paper plane, the more lift it will generate.

PITCH AND ROLL: The tendency of an aircraft to roll horizontally or rotate forward or backward.

Design Tip: Wing tip folds and back of wing flaps will help control the stability of your paper plane in flight.

SUPERSONIC: Travelling faster than MACH 1 (the speed of sound) which is 660 miles per hour.

Design Tip: You won’t be able to break the speed of sound but how you throw your paper plane will dictate how succe3ssful your attempt is. If you have a slim dart shape, a high fast throw is optimal. If you have a large wingspan glider shape, a more gentle throw will keep the plane in flight longer.

An excellent stable glider that generates large amounts of lift and is controlled by the extra weight at the nose.

Check out: http://www.paperaeroplanes.com/http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/

Aerodynamics

and your design:

Don’t forget - you have experts around you, get some tips!

Designed and created by Learn by design www.learnbydesign.co.uk for the Big Bang Near me Programme events.

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The Spade Design:

The Concorde/Delta design:

some classic designs to get you started

The Classic Dart Design: DESIGN

TIPS