Introduction: Rubber Band Helicopter

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About: If you find yourself reading this hit me up if you are nearby. We can hang out and make something awesome.

This is a rubber band helicopter that is less demanding on supplies. It flies around 20 feet up in the air!

All you need is:

- 1 Rubber band

- A long can of soda or tea

- 1 BIC pen

- Tape

- Paperclip

*Beware* We will be cutting up this can. It will be sharp!

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Check out some of my other projects:

Pork Roast, Just Kidding!

Paracord Pot Holder

Stain Remover

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Step 1: Disassembly

1. Disassemble your BIC pen into 4 pieces. You can do this with your hands or use some pliers. Inspect your top piece on your pen to make sure it is smooth, then replace it on your pen. If it is not smooth you should sand it.

2. Straighten your paperclip then make a little hook at the end. You will use this to hook your rubber band and bring it through your pen. At the end you should shorten your paperclip. Make sure your rubber band is snug at the bottom but not so tight so that it will snap.

Step 2: Creating Your Propeller

1. Sketch our your propeller. Make it as long as you can, on your can, before the metal slopes at the top and bottom of the can (Say that 5 times fast). The width should be a little over an inch. Cut out your design (Be careful metal is sharp!).

2. Find the middle of your propeller and make a dot draw lines a half inch away from your dot on each side, about a half way in. This is where you will cut. Bend the Propeller in on each side. After your project is done you can make adjustments.

3. Tape your paper clip to your Propeller and you are finished!

Step 3: Finished!

Now that you are finished you can try it out and make minor adjustments to the propeller. All you have to do is spin the propeller to wined it up. This should be able to fly up about 20 feet up in the air if everything is done right.

If you are not getting a great flight time:

- Make sure the rubber band is not rubbing too much against your pen. (Maybe try another rubber band)

- A slower spin will make the helicopter fly longer.

- Make sure there is little friction between the pen, your tape, and rubber band.

- If you twist for too long the propeller will not spin.

- Adjust the propeller angle.

Rubber Bands Challenge

First Prize in the
Rubber Bands Challenge