Flying gyroscope out of piece of paper!!

An astonishing flying cylinder that uses the principles of a gyroscope to fly incredible distances!! Even better it requires nothing but a sheet of paper!!!


Here is what you need:

-1 piece of paper (8 1/2 x 11 works best but others will work)
- a couple minutes (seconds if you practice)

Step 1 Lay your paper out on a flat suface.

You will need a flat area if you want it to work well and get solid folds.

Comments

[Mad!dog]

I recently read that one of these holds the world record for the longest flight for a hand launched device. It flew about 1250ft. Wow that's far. I was amazed.

[NathanTheGreat]

Th is EPIC i made this and it flies really good.

[weberf]

Great instructable, I made one and it flies awesomely. I couldn't figure out how to fit the sides into eachother so I just taped it and it still works. Nice job!

[nitrodude150]

GREAT INSTRUCTABLE! I'm taking these to my school's Open House tonight!
I have here, a fun little Template to print out for the outside -- Just 'cuz I'm a physics lover...

[Gamer917]

this was in one of my paper plane books. Ive made 100's of these

[Wafflicious]

Klutz?

[amr kozbari]

I liked it how did you do it and how did you know it was a [[Video(, {width:425, height:350})]]flying ring?

[macrumpton]

To get the curve rounder you can hold the two rolled ends of the paper and stretch it vertically over the edge of a table while sliding it up and down several times. it will curve towards the table.

[instruct0r]

i learned this in fourth grade 4 years ago in boy scouts, then ive seen them in shops now and then in this kite shops

[power]

you can say it's a replica of x-zylo.very cool stuff to do in class and all my friends love it

[PieMaster777]

cool it relay flies good!

[EXPERTIXE]

I don't get how you make one lip go into the other

[mspark400]

on both sides there will be the loose edge and then lots of folds. on the first slot of the inside of the ring one one sided, stick the bottom part (with all the folds) of the other side into this slot. it is very tricky to explain and do but once you get it one time it will be much easier. good luck

[kricketone]

use to make these out of aluminum cans

[pyro13]

how did you make it out of aluminum cans? can you post pics or and instructable? im interested in learning

[kricketone]

cut the top out of any soda can and leave the outer ring the cut the bottom out, cut from the side I just poke a hole and cut it off be careful will be sharp, then throw it like you would a football

[technology-abuse.tk]

I remember my science teacher showed me this, i think air flight should somehow make a ship like this.

[Lftndbt]

*~Any chance of adding some blade thingy's? So it's like a killer, paper, bladed spinny tube of death thing?~* Sorry just dreaming of throwing them at the boss from the other side of the warehouse... Gotta go make one of these though! Nice work!

[mspark400]

i suppose hypotheticly you could tape blades or put them in the folds sticking out ...not that i support that *wink* *wink*

[gdub1973]

I'm also surprised at how well this actually works - my kids love it! Thanks for sharing!

[Kiteman]

<em><cough><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Roll-your-own-UFO/">Done it</a><cough></em><br/><br/>To others who doubt the gyroscopic nature of the beast - that's what the rolled edge it for. Spinning that mass generates stabilising gyroscopic forces.<br/><br/>Hundreds of feet, though... maybe from a very high launch.<br/>

[Weissensteinburg]

...hundreds of feet?

[mspark400]

honestly yes if it is made right

[SteamKit]

Did you check your measurements there? I've seen these before, and a well made one doesn't go hundreds of feet. A good throw is more like...75.

[mspark400]

i have made it at least 150 ft maybe just luck or wind? ill change it

[T3h_Muffinator]

I'm.... pretty sure it doesn't work on gyroscopic principles but yes, it does go really far.

[mspark400]

the real product is called "the flying gyroscope" i think it is the spiral of the throw that has the forces and i think i does technicly have some

[khd1991]

ok, so in other words this is a way to make your own xzylo... not meaning it in a negative way though. I bought a xzylo (a sturdy plastic ring with a sheet of plastic wrapped around it) a few years back and it was awesome, until it got lost flying too far and getting into the middle of one of those huge prickly bushes... nice job, I'll be sure to use this more than once when bored

[mspark400]

i actually have one and they are quite fun but not free

[mspark400]

sorry about the extra pics some glitches while making stay tuned for a video too enjoy !!

[LasVegas]

You can go into edit mode of your Instructable (even now!) and remove extra pictures from where they're not needed.

[ongissim]

Wow- I'm surprised how well this worked!