Make It Fly... Forever! Easiest Walkalong Glider Ever

Hi! This instructable will teach you how to make a walkalong glider that is much easier to make than the classic tumblewing glider and easier to fly (I say glider, but really it is more on the paper helicopter side). These are also super fun just to drop and see them slowly spin down to earth. Warning: addictive! This is a good way to entertain yourself when bored at home.

Supplies

For this project, you will need a few things:

-Newspaper (If you have phone book paper, this works even better, but I didn't have any on hand)

-Scissors

-Pencil or pen

-Ruler

-Something to fly them with (i.e. big piece of cardboard, book, etc, we will get into how to fly them later)

Step 1: Trace and Cut Glider

First, trace your what will become your glider. The dimensions are six inches by one inch, but you can just estimate and your glider will still work. Using the edges as shown in the picture will save you from cutting the whole outline out.

Step 2: Fold Your Glider in Half

Uh... do you need an explanation?

Step 3: Get Your Glider Angle Just Right

Now correct the angle of the V shape (called dihedral) to look close to this.

Step 4: How to Fly

To fly it as a glider that slowly spins to the ground, follow these steps:

1. Hold the glider at the top of the glider so that the two ends are bending in towards you as shown in picture (this will help it to spin down away from you, rather than into your face)

2. Hold high above your head in front of you and release!

3. Be amazed.

See next step for how to make it fly forever.

Step 5: Walkalong Glider

To make it fly (theoretically) forever, do the previous steps for making it fly, but this time holding your piece of cardboard or whatever you chose to fly it with. Drop the glider and try to slowly walk along with it, trying to keep it afloat by tilting the cardboard at an angle. If you get stuck, look at the picture (Doesn't this kid look like he's having fun?) or google it. To turn, tilt the cardboard left or right. This works with something about the air deflecting off the cardboard onto the glider, but I'm not really sure beyond that. Good luck!

Step 6: More Fun Stuff

• Since these are so easy to make, try mass producing them and throwing them up into the air. All of the gliders in the title picture were made in less than two minutes!
• If you're in a hotel, flying them off the top floor will relieve boredom.
• Putting them wedged between the twisted rubber band and body of a model airplane will make a timed release. As the plane is flying, it will release the gliders!
• For an extra challenge, try flying them with your hands.

I hope you had fun making and flying these!