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I did the same in elementary school, I made my own plane design after many iterations of a/b testing. It won pretty much every airplane contest. No tape, pennie

I did the same in elementary school, I made my own plane design after many iterations of a/b testing. It won pretty much every airplane contest. No tape, pennies, or paperclips needed, they actually reduced the overall distance if the center of mass was too close to the tip. When thrown you had to keep the wings folded down unlike a traditional plane. Basically I made a dart. You didn't have to be good at throwing either, guaranteed to work in any weather condition since it didn't rely much on aerodynamics. Unlike regular origami planes, the harder you threw it the further it went. So I always had the biggest guy in class throw it. Suprisingly I never came across the design in any origimai books/sites I've found either, even years later. Its probably out there somewhere but I still remember how to make it.

Tomte 8y ago
I'm interested! Maybe you could document it (drawing, video, whatever)?
- chrisshroba 8y ago
  I’d also love to see the design!!
- Kagerjay 8y ago
  Here I took pictures of the build https://imgur.com/a/KvsowhC https://imgur.com/a/KvsowhC I tested it out a few times. It actually sucks. I can't help but see all the flaws this plane has many years later. It only flies up to ~50 to 100feet max indoors which is kinda of awful (world record indoors is 226feet). Once it hits peak pivotal height it just nosedives straight to the ground. Most top tier plane designs have a gliding mechanism on the apex point, mine doesn't. It doesn't really work exactly at a 45* arc either. Its closer to something less optimal at maybe ~35 to 40* for longer distance to prevent nosediving. I always thought this plane was really good. I remember when I had my first airplane competition at elementary school, everyone had shitty airplane designs. This plane went from one end to the classroom to another (25 feet), slamming hard into the wall. Classmates were shocked it performed so well, and it was definitely a headturner as it didn't look like a plane. I think I may have overestimated how good this plane is. Its not really, its mechanically a poor design. It must have just been my imagination b/c I didn't know any better at the time (dunning kruger effect). And had validation in small size competitions. Plus I was shorter back then and things seemed bigger
  - titusjohnson 8y ago
    My Dad showed me me how to make that design! That was always my favorite way to make a plane. I think it's because the design holds up well to a kid throwing it as hard as possible. It doesn't glide so much as arcs like an arrow with enough force. It also works OK if you tape a slightly hooked paperclip to the tip, and then use a large rubber band to launch it.
    - Kagerjay 8y ago
      That's awesome :). I didnt think my design was unique, it just seemed like the natural way of making a paper airplane I never tried out the rubberband trick but I definitely will next time. Seems like an easy way to make a quick projectile Whenever I visit my nieces/ nephews, this is one of my cheap parlor tricks / fun toys I make.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    > It doesn't really work exactly at a 45 arc either. Its closer to something less optimal at maybe ~35 to 40* for longer distance to prevent nosediving.* 45 degrees is a theoretical optimum for ballistic flight in a vacuum. From what I recall from school, air drag makes the actual optimum on Earth closer to 35 degrees.

Tomte 8y ago

I'm interested! Maybe you could document it (drawing, video, whatever)?

chrisshroba 8y ago
I’d also love to see the design!!
Kagerjay 8y ago
Here I took pictures of the build https://imgur.com/a/KvsowhC https://imgur.com/a/KvsowhC I tested it out a few times. It actually sucks. I can't help but see all the flaws this plane has many years later. It only flies up to ~50 to 100feet max indoors which is kinda of awful (world record indoors is 226feet). Once it hits peak pivotal height it just nosedives straight to the ground. Most top tier plane designs have a gliding mechanism on the apex point, mine doesn't. It doesn't really work exactly at a 45* arc either. Its closer to something less optimal at maybe ~35 to 40* for longer distance to prevent nosediving. I always thought this plane was really good. I remember when I had my first airplane competition at elementary school, everyone had shitty airplane designs. This plane went from one end to the classroom to another (25 feet), slamming hard into the wall. Classmates were shocked it performed so well, and it was definitely a headturner as it didn't look like a plane. I think I may have overestimated how good this plane is. Its not really, its mechanically a poor design. It must have just been my imagination b/c I didn't know any better at the time (dunning kruger effect). And had validation in small size competitions. Plus I was shorter back then and things seemed bigger
- titusjohnson 8y ago
  My Dad showed me me how to make that design! That was always my favorite way to make a plane. I think it's because the design holds up well to a kid throwing it as hard as possible. It doesn't glide so much as arcs like an arrow with enough force. It also works OK if you tape a slightly hooked paperclip to the tip, and then use a large rubber band to launch it.
  - Kagerjay 8y ago
    That's awesome :). I didnt think my design was unique, it just seemed like the natural way of making a paper airplane I never tried out the rubberband trick but I definitely will next time. Seems like an easy way to make a quick projectile Whenever I visit my nieces/ nephews, this is one of my cheap parlor tricks / fun toys I make.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  > It doesn't really work exactly at a 45 arc either. Its closer to something less optimal at maybe ~35 to 40* for longer distance to prevent nosediving.* 45 degrees is a theoretical optimum for ballistic flight in a vacuum. From what I recall from school, air drag makes the actual optimum on Earth closer to 35 degrees.