I recently learned about how airplanes fly. I learned about the 4 forces of flight. They are the forces that the plane uses to fly. They are:
Lift – This is the force that makes the plane fly. It is generated by the wings. It can be controlled using flaps.
Gravity – This is the force that is opposite to the lift. The amount of lift must be greater than the force of gravity in order for the plane to fly.
Thrust – This is the force that pushes the plane forward. It is usually generated by engines on the plane.
Drag – This is the air resistance acting on the plane when it is flying. The thrust must be greater than the drag in order for the plane to move.
I made a few paper airplanes to test the forces of flight, and just to get an idea of how they work. I made a classic dart plane, which has thin delta wings. Delta wings are meant for, and works best with fast planes. I also made a plane closer in shape to a glider. It still had delta wings, but the wings were much wider. It went slower, but the air was able to carry it for a little bit due to the wider wings. Here are some pictures.
Next, I am going to be making a glider made out of bass wood. I think while I make this, I will keep track on the weight balance and center of gravity of the plane, because it is a crucial part of making it fly well. I think wood is heavier than paper, so I will keep that in mind. Also, the shape of the wings are also very important for the plane to fly. I will experiment with wings that work best in stable and unstable air.