Each Den will need to have their scouts develop two paper airplanes each. One for distance and one for air time. Den leaders will need to collect the airplanes and bring them to the pack meeting. Be sure that the scouts mark their planes with their first initial and last name.

1. Distance

For the “distance” category, each scout throws his paper airplane while a monitor records distances in feet and inches. All distances must be measured from the starting line to the point where the plane first touches the ground or floor – not to the final resting place if it slides. Each competitor has up to three chances to get his best distance.

2. Air Time

For the “time in air” category, each scout throws his airplane while the monitor times the flights with an accurate stopwatch. Times will be reported in seconds and hundredths of a second. (Example: 2.45 seconds.) Each scout has up to three chances to get his longest “time in air.”

Each den will need to complete three additional engineering task. Instructions and materials for these task will be provided at the pack meeting.

Paper Airplane Resources

There are many books, web sites and articles available on the successful construction of paper airplanes and aerodynamics. Check out some of these!

Books

• Blackburn, Ken and Jeff Lammers. The World Record Paper Airplane Book. Jeff New York: Workman, 1994.
• Bosak, Susan V., Douglas A. Bosak, and Brian A. Puppa. Science Is . . . . New York: Firefly Books, 1992.
• Churchill, E. Richard. Paper Action Toys, illustrated by James Michaels. New York: Sterling, 1994.
• Morris, Campbell. Skybusters. New York: Scholastic, 1990.
• Razzi, Jim. Paper Airplanes to Make and Fly. New York: Scholastic, 1990.

Online

Fantastic Frequent Flyers (Science World)

Paper Airplane Designs

World Record for Air Time 27.6 Seconds

Another Design

Another Design (More Complex)

Need More Designs