CanardWings - a Variation of Paperang, a Cool Paperplane/glider

Intro: CanardWings - a Variation of Paperang, a Cool Paperplane/glider

This is a variation of the famous Paperang. I found the Paperang works, but does not fly as well despite tweaking the trailing edge.
I began to explore to see if I can somehow create a pair of canards or stabilizers at the nose since the wings are aerodynamically shaped.
After several attempts...the CanardWings was born....

STEP 1: You Need a Sheet of A4 Paper 70~80gm

First print out this trailing edge curvature for the wings.
You may also want to experiment with different curvatures.
After printing, cut along the curve line, set it aside. It will be used for tracing onto the actual glider.
Print this

STEP 2: The Fold...

Use a fresh sheet of A4 paper, place it on a table with the long side towards yourself.
Fold in half, aligning the edges as accurately as possible. Crease the fold.
Fold paper in half

STEP 3: Paper Folded in Half

Bring point (A) to the folded edge, forming a triangular flap.
forming the first flap

STEP 4: Triangular Flap Formed

Crease the fold and repeat on other side, then flip over.Folded triangle flap

STEP 5: Next Fold...

Fold up (B) to meet the angled edge.
Fold up (B)

STEP 6: Fold Up (C)

Next fold point (C) up to meet the edge.
Fold up (C)

STEP 7: Make a Cut in the Folded Center

Cut the folded center according to the photo below, use a sharp razor for a neat cut:
Cut the folded center

STEP 8: Center Fold Cut...

Cut from the top of triangle...
Center fold cut

STEP 9: Fold Down Along Center Cut...

Fold down the flap made possible by the cut center fold.
Repeat fold on other side and flip over again.
Fold down along cut center

STEP 10: Both Sides Done...

This photo shows both sides folded down...ready to trace the printed curvature on the trailing edge and cut the curve.
Both side folded down

STEP 11: Trace and Cut the Curved Trailing Edge.

Now take the template from the previously printed trailing edge curvature and trace it to the wings as shown. Next cut out along the curve line forming the trailing edge. Do this by holding the folded sheet firmly and cut as close to the curvature as possible. When opened up, you will get identical curved wings on both sides.
Trace and cut trailing edge

STEP 12: Cut Center Fold Again

Now use the razor and cut the center fold as before, but this time only HALF of the length as shown by the RED line in the previous photo. This cut allows 1 final fold to the leading edge, it also stiffens the wings and gives the right aspect ratio.
Cut center fold again

STEP 13: Cut Center Fold Halfway...

This photo shows the exposed view of the center fold being cut halfway.
This cut will allow the final fold for the leading edge of the CanardWings.
cut center fold halfway

STEP 14: Forming the Canards

Now to fold the canards. Just fold it along the folded center fold, crease and unfold, repeat on other side and flip over:
Folding the canards

STEP 15: Final Fold of the Canard

Fold the right edge to meet with the center fold.
Then fold the whole folded canard to the left again, repeat on other side.
Fold in the canard

STEP 16: Almost Done...

Now spread open the center fold, this is what you should get:
Spread it open

STEP 17: Staple the CanardWings Together

Next carefully align the spread wings and canards centrally, staple ONCE across the center fold.
Staple it...

STEP 18: Underside View of CanardWings

This is a shot from underside, your almost finished CanardWings should look like this.
The stapled is bent slightly to create a dihedral and the staple retained the shape well. The degree of angle of dihedral plays an important role on the flight characteristics of the CanardWings. Experiment and have fun.
A view from under side

STEP 19: Finishing Touch...

Slightly bend UP the trailing edge. This creates a foil that gives the wings lift.
Bend up the trailing edge

STEP 20: Now Launch the CanardWings

Hold the CanardWings as shown in photo.
To launch hold it above your head and lightly toss.
This wings are great indoors and outdoors...tweak the trailing edge and canards (can be slightly bend DOWNWARDS) to create different flight patterns...enjoy your flight!Hold this way to launch

STEP 21: Video of CanardWing's Long Distance Flight...

The CanardWings was launched from the 17th floor. The distance travelled was roughly 60~80 meters then caught the wind and was blown back a bit.
It flew to the left and was hidden was a few seconds and then came back into view, appearing on the left screen again, flew across the street towards the opposite apartment block and was blown back. It finally landed on the top deck of a multistorey carpark.

A slightly larger and better video hosted by VEOH

Comments

[Peepman99]

a tip: please be more descriptive... i didnt make it right and now im mad, not at you, just some lack of knowing where to do stuff

[jheadrick]

Great glider, just built it.

[plyalex1994]

This is an awesome plane! Thanks :)

[muthaw]

excellent work

[macboy98]

i cant understand 11th step to 15 th step

[Edhui]

Hi there. This is Ed Hui, inventor of the Paperang. Thank you for acknowledging the Paperang. Hope you don't mind me mentioning that the instructions for the original Paperang are available from www.paperang.com. It would have been nice if you'd asked before publishing instructions to the Paperang. I know the internet is a wild place, and copyright seldom respected, but I'd certainly have asked you if I wanted to reproduce a design of yours. More to the point, I would certainly object and take legal action if someone reproduced the design commercially, but I am satisfied you have no such intention. You therefore have my permission to publish it here; but this is for this site and in this form only. Anyway, your modification is certainly new- I have tried many variations- as you know from my site, I consider the Paperang a system rather than an individual design. The combination of tapered spars, a hang glider shape and the staple or other fastening in the middle constitute the original idea. My experience with the Paperang is the same as yours in that it's pretty futile to tweak the trailing edge. However, the design as I've published it flies fine without the canard. I think the difference lies in the point in centre of the trailing edge of your variation. It acts as a down elevator, causing the nose to pitch down. I can see from the video that the glide angle you achieve is actually a good deal worse than the Paperang, although you have good stability. Please give the Paperang another go, but with a more accurate trailing edge without the point. Make the cut cross the centre fold at right angles. In any case I'm glad you enjoyed messing about with the Paperang- it's 30 years since I invented it. I still haven't seen anything that combines its efficiency with its aerobatic ability. Have you tried launching it hard indoors in a sports hall? Kind regards Ed

[Jaquezy]

When you buy the book at zulu and amazon and things does the Paperang Moth book come on its own or doesn it have other airplanes in book because it is about £4. I think the paperang and paperang moth are really good. I just made the Paperang and it flies really well.. Plus the Paperang moth looks rewally interesting

[Edhui]

It's just a little book with just the Paperang Moth. Yes, it's £4 and there's p&p as well, but the Moth is very special- it's outrageously simple, but truly elegant. It's a one trick pony, as they say, but it's a very special trick.
I thought of using other methods, but this seemed the most sensible. It's not something I can just show with photos, or on youtube, because its performance is due to complete freedom from the rules of origami. So, there are no 'self templating' folds, no relationship with the straight edges of the paper, and the entire outline of the design is cut out. Having gone to the trouble of describing it properly, it seemed to me that it made a pretty little book perfect for the 'print to order' model of lulu.com so I thought I'd give it a go. It does mean that parents and grandparents can have something physical to send as a gift. It's a rare thing nowadays for a really original craft idea to be available in this way and I make no apologies for it. yes, it'd be nice to make a few pennies, but I'm far more excited by the fact that it's something you can hold. For those who don't know, the flight of the Paperang Moth can be seen at
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I1QZbekTXQo&fmt=18
The book can be bought from
http://www.lulu.com/content/5125220

[Jaquezy]

never knew you would reply so fast...

[Edhui]

You never knew a little piece of paper could fly so well, either... :-D

[Mr.A-Z]

I know ,that's why I just tried to make it..And ,how do you throw a paperang so it 'll come back to you?My paperang turns back to me when i throw it ,but it always land before i can catch it..

[Edhui]

 Launch it with a more upwards trajectory? Harder? Watch the video- there's nothing hidden.
Ed

[Jaquezy]

See you replied fast again!! Lol =]

[Mr.A-Z]

do you make any paperang moth?

[Mr.A-Z]

Ah..the paperang moth! They are very amazing! By the way ,I tried to make a small paperang..but it doesn't fly well..What should I do to make it stable? ( I mean, it's a small original paperang..) Thanks..

[flactemnad]

Ed, Don't think that this infringes on your copyright unless text or photos you made are included within this instructable. Since you invented this design 30 years ago there is also no patent that will keep him from making derivative designs or even instructions to make your original design. Still glad you designed the Paperang.

[Edhui]

Hi As I said, I have no objection to Layangman's efforts here, so my comments are general. There is no patent. I love the idea of people making Paperangs- patents would be counter to that idea. The issue is copyright, from my publications that range from 1987 to my current website- not from the time I invented it. Copyright law is complex, of course, but I coined the word 'Paperang', and there large body of text, diagrams and photos that describe not only the basic Paperang instructions but the ways the designs can be varied. Obviously I would most likely only pursue large publishers who attempted to infringe copyright for their profit. But that's not really the point- I do want to maintain and affirm my status as inventor of the Paperang. Anyone who wanted to share the original Paperang experience can always refer readers to the instructions and photos on paperang.com, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Anyone who wanted to add anything, as our host has, should as a matter of courtesy link back to the original or give a proper reference. As I've implied, I'm sure Layangman had all good intentions and I have no complaint; but although he mentioned the Paperang by name, he didn't mention the fact that there was in fact a website, or refer to one of my published books. Let's not talk about legalities here- it's just not best practice. That's why I made contact. Anyway, I hope that clarifies my position; I don't want to take up more space here- if you'd like to discuss further, do e-mail me. Contact details are at paperang.com

[sgt.paper]

WELL YOUR IN A BAD MOOD TO DAY

[layangman]

Hi Ed, Thank you for the permission to publish instructions. I do acknowledge Paperang as being the original since CanardWings is a variation. You are right in that I have no commercial interest in this instructable, I just love paperplanes/gliders and want to share with the community here. I would be very happy if you try out this variation, as you can see, the folding of the leading edge is different from step 6 onwards. I think this makes the aspect ratio of the CanardWings differ from the Paperang. Of course I will try out your suggestion to do away with the sharp end tail. No, I have not tried it in a sports hall, and indoors are a little crammed here. I would be honored if you would consider coming aboard as a collaborator. Cheers, Pat

[Mr.A-Z]

Can you make it come back to you after you throw it? just like the original paperang..But your "canard paperang" is awesome!It flies as good as the original paperang!