Like the previous post, this is excerpted from “How To Make And Fly Paper Airplanes,” by Captain Ralph Barnaby, U. S. Navy, Retired.<\/p>\n

Launching a Model in Aerial Maneuvers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The kinds of maneuvers that can be made with paper airplanes depends on (1) adjustments of control surfaces before launch, since there is no way of changing them in flight, and\u00a0 (2) technique of launching.\u00a0 Technique of launching in turn breaks down into speed of launching, attitude of model at time of release and direction of release.<\/p>\n

The maneuvers most easily performed with\u00a0 paper airplanes are circles, turns and loops.\u00a0 But before a model can execute any maneuver it must be made to fly a straight-line glide.\u00a0 This is critical.\u00a0 If a model does not fly a straight glide, it will not perform maneuvers properly.\u00a0 So let’s review the straight glide launching.<\/p>\n

Hold the Barnaby model by the body ahead of the trailing edge.\u00a0 Make sure the wings are level and aim the nose along what you believe to be the normal glide path.\u00a0 Move the model ahead along the projected flight path at what you estimate to be the gliding speed.\u00a0 Release the model.<\/p>\n

Take care that you do not alter the attitude of the model as you launch it.\u00a0 Keep your eye on the model and concentrate on the center-line.\u00a0 Think of moving your hand in a path parallel to the center-line.<\/p>\n

Also, don’t release the model with a snap of the wrist.\u00a0 You will change the model’s flight path.\u00a0 Instead, follow through with your launching arm.<\/p>\n

Remember, practice makes perfect!<\/p>\n

Once you have the straight glide launching down pat, you are ready for maneuvers.<\/p>\n

Circles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Circular flights are made in a path more or less parallel to the ground.\u00a0 Most paper airplanes, except the darts, can fly circles, but the best performers are models with greater wing span like the Barnaby and the swept-wings.<\/p>\n

Whether a model flies a full or partial circle depends on (1) the amount of up-elevator applied, (2) the angle of bank at which the model is released and (3) the speed of launching.<\/p>\n

Here are directions for launching models in left and right turns.\u00a0 I assume you are right-handed.\u00a0 If you are left-handed, simply alter the instructions as necessary.<\/p>\n

Grasp the model by the nose.\u00a0 Hold the model in a vertical bank, underside toward you.<\/p>\n

Now, for a circle to the left, hold the model at your left, nose pointing toward the right.\u00a0 Quickly and smoothly draw your hand straight across to the right.\u00a0 Release the airplane without changing this line.\u00a0 Any twist of the wrist will cause erratic flight.\u00a0 Launched properly, the model should fly a circle and then, if enough altitude remains, finish up in a straight glide.<\/p>\n

For a circle to the right, hold the model out at your right, nose pointed to the left.\u00a0 Pull your hand straight across toward the left and release the model.<\/p>\n

For a complete circle that returns to your hand, hold the model clear up on the edge and launch it at high speed.\u00a0 I have had some models that would perform two complete circles and return to my hand.\u00a0 Such trick flights depend on precise balance and careful launching–both of which require considerable practice.<\/p>\n

Turns<\/strong><\/p>\n

A turn is simply an incomplete circle.\u00a0 So to make your model fly a turn hold it in position for a circle, but bank it less and don’t push it so hard.\u00a0 The model should fly part of a turn, then straighten out into a normal straight-line glide.<\/p>\n

If you find you do well with turns, you might try your hand at S-turns.\u00a0 For a left-right S-turn, give your model a little right rudder and then launch it in a left turn.\u00a0 The model should fly part of a left turn, slow down, level out and go into a right turn.\u00a0 For a right-left S-turn, simply reverse the procedure.<\/p>\n

Whatever you do, don’t try to fly turns with a poorly aligned model that turns when launched into a straight glide.\u00a0 If it has a tendency to turn, say, to the left when launched straight, it will lose altitude or dive on being launched to fly a left turn.\u00a0 When launched for a right turn, it will climb.\u00a0 On the other hand, if a model makes perfect turns in both directions, it is pretty sure to fly straight when so launched.<\/p>\n

Loops<\/strong><\/p>\n

Loops are made in a path perpendicular to the ground.\u00a0 To prepare your model for a loop, you must first, of course, get it to fly a straight glide.\u00a0 Your next step is to give the model extra up-elevator.\u00a0 Curl up the trailing edge of the tail somewhat more than for a normal glide.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Grasp the Barnaby by the leading edge and launch it fairly fast on a slightly downward path, as seen at the left.\u00a0 If the model does not fly all the way around a loop, try a faster launch or more up-elevator, or perhaps a little of both.\u00a0 Be sure the wings are level at launch.\u00a0 If the model is tilted sideways, it will do a climbing turn and dive instead of a loop.<\/p>\n

After completing a loop, a model will probably do a series of roller-coaster dives and climbs.\u00a0 If properly balanced, they should gradually dampen out into normal glide–possibly with slight up-and-down undulations because of the stabilizing effect of the increased elevator.<\/p>\n

There is another way to loop the loop.\u00a0 Hold the model nose-up with the top surface away from you.\u00a0 Now pull the airplane straight up, releasing the model in front of your face.\u00a0 The airplane should loop away from you, then return so you can catch it in your hand.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like the previous post, this is excerpted from “How To Make And Fly Paper Airplanes,” by Captain Ralph Barnaby, U. S. Navy, Retired. Launching a Model in Aerial Maneuvers The kinds of maneuvers that can be made with paper airplanes depends on (1) adjustments of control surfaces before launch, since there is no way of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78\/revisions\/83"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/howardfink.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}