Build and Surf an Origami Hang Glider on a Wave of Air

Shortcut to the 2-4-1 Origami Hang Glider Pattern (PDF) If you cannot print PDF, try this GIF, but you will likely have to fiddle to get the size right.

See important updates at part two to make the building and flying easier.

Yikes! You are surfing a paper airplane on an invisible wave of air that you create with a piece of cardboard. With practice you learn how to levitate the origami hang glider using only your hands to create the wave.

 
If YouTube is blocked at your school, try this SchoolTube equivalent link Part 1 Here are some still shots from the introductory video. If you would rather start walkalong gliding with an easier to build project, go here to the tumblewing instead.

If YouTube is blocked at your school, try this SchoolTube equivalent link Part 2 Here are some still shots from Part 2, the construction video.

Important Updates

As you build and fly, here are some tips that I wish were in the video (updated instructional videos coming soon). If you keep these in mind as you go through the instructions, you might have a less frustrating time.

It is summer now in the the northern hemisphere where I live. Pennsylvania gets hot and humid. I am having a terrible time flying the origami hang gliders because the humidity makes the paper too limp.They just roll and dive! I can work in the cool morning or evening, or wait until another time of year, but I don't know what somebody working in a tropical region could do. Any ideas. Finding a place with air conditioning might help, but remember that the turbulence of air blasting out of vents can

I no longer make a second glider out of the printer paper. It’s just too heavy, which makes it fly so fast I can't keep up with it. I save time by just concentrating on the phone book paper glider. The printer paper seems to be as affected by humidity as the phone book paper.

I no longer cut the notch in the front. I just fold that part now.

The center of gravity (CG) marks on the glider are starting points only. Adding more or removing weight shifts the CG forward or backward. This is very useful for dealing with stalling and diving.

Instead of straws for boom and weight, I now use the thin wire that’s inside “twisties,” those bendy things used to close plastic bags and also to wrap various cords when you first open the packaging of electronic equipment. I strip off the paper or plastic part off with pliers so it’s more aerodynamic. When taped on, I can fine tune the by straightening the wire for more leverage (more downward force to counteract stalling). Or I can fold the wire back on itself for less downward leverage (if the glider is diving). It’s easier than adding or cutting off tape.

When taping the wire on, fold that short, very front fold too, so the tape folds too.

The two diagonal folds near the front of the glider—the ones that make the under curve (camber)--have to be creased firmly to establish the folds. HOWEVER, when flying, they should only be bent enough to keep the glider from buckling (bending where it is supposed to stiff enough not to bend). Too much fold, which causes too much camber, makes the glider dive uncontrollably. The boom weight in the front also pushes the front down, but its push is self-limiting. Not so the front (leading edge, LE) if it’s bent down too much—it pushes the glider down harder when it’s divining. A good way to limit the camber is to stick the glider in the middle of the phone book and close it. In a few seconds it seems to flatten the glider just enough.

I have concluded that a well adjusted glider might not need the vertical stabilizers at the sides. That reduces weight in the back, which means a bit less weight needed in the front, so it’s a bit more efficient. But don't try it when the air has high humidity, because the paper is less stiff and already has control problems. If you cut off the stabilizers, just round the sharp corners a little.

When learning to fly—before you use your hands to create the air wave—I am finding something small that can be held with one hand, like a breakfast cereal box, works better than something big and bulky.

If YouTube is blocked at your school, try this SchoolTube equivalent link Part 3 Here are some still shots from Part 3, more construction.

If YouTube is blocked at your school, try this SchoolTube equivalent link Part 4 Here are some still shots from Part 4, adjusting and flying. It is not clear in the video, but the center of gravity marks are only starting points. You can add tape if it stalls or cut off tape if it dives.

Part 5: Advanced Flying (with your hands)

If YouTube is blocked at your school, try this SchoolTube equivalent link Part 5 Here are some still shots from Part 5, flying with only your hands

Here is a video that shows how our origami hand glider flies using the same principle as big hang gliders

Here is the SchoolTube equivalent

Here is a video about the Walkalong Glider History and New Directions. Here is some text explanation for the images.

Here is the SchoolTube equivalent

Finally, here is great clip from Scientific American Frontiers. The program was mostly about Dr. Paul MacCready, the inspiring pioneer of human powered flight. However, this was a segment about his son, Dr. Tyler MacCready, and his foam walkalong glider (commercially available, see YouTube text box).

How did the project go for you? Contact me

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