Friday, May 15, 2015

The Perfect Paper Airplane

I walked into my son's room and found about a half a dozen paper airplanes lying on the floor. I called him into the room. "What's up with this?" I asked.

"I was making paper airplanes," he said.

That was pretty obvious.

"I wanted to make the perfect paper airplane."

"Did you get one?" I asked.

"Not yet," he said. "Can you make it?"

I shrugged. "Give me some paper and I'll try."

He did, and I made one of the models from The Dangerous Book for Boys. "There you go," I said.

He flew it. "Pretty good, but not perfect."

"Then you'd better ask your dad. If anyone can make a perfect paper airplane, it's him."

So he went to my husband. 

An hour later, he came back with a huge grin on his face. "Watch this," he said. He tossed the plane into the air. Honestly, I have never seen a paper airplane fly so far and straight.

"Wow," I said. "That's a masterpiece!"

I inspected it. The thing had flaps cut out, paperclips attached, and the most intricate looking nose. It was an engineering marvel.

My son took it outside and showed his friends. They were amazed at how far that thing flew down the street.

I think my husband has a future in aeronautical engineering!

Here's a picture of the thing for those of you wanting to know what it looks like:

57 comments:

  1. When I was younger I loved making airplanes out of paper, even paper boats that would actually float.

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    1. A paper boat that would float. Cool! How long did it float before it got water-logged?

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    2. To be honest, I actually don't remember, I just know it did float for quite some time.

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  2. Your husband really knows what he's doing!

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  3. a perfect paper aeroplane is a majestic sight to behold :)
    good job to your husband!

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  4. Clever husband you have there Sherry.
    My late husband worked on real planes.
    He worked on the first British Concorde, I wonder if he put any paper clips on that?...lol
    Yvonne.

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    1. That is so cool! I bet it would've flown even better with paperclips. ;0)

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  5. he might start selling those things to the kids in the neighbourhood

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  6. Hmmm... Paper clips. Interesting.

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  7. On behalf of those of us, I thank you.

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  8. Glad you included a photo that to me appears to be a rocket. No wonder it flew so well. Glad Bubba was able to fly it and show his friends. :-)

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  9. I was always terrible at making paper planes.

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    1. Mine were always fair. Not bad, not great. Then I discovered the Dangerous Book for Boys. It has made all the difference!

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  10. Wow. That's some plane. Your son is now the envy of the neighborhood!

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  11. Wow, he went elaborate. Bet your husband can win any paper airplane contest

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  12. I've never been able to make a paper plane that flew anywhere but down to the floor... I think I need some lessons xox

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    1. I'm sure my husband will be happy to teach you.

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  13. Look inside. Is there a secret drone?

    Love,
    Janie

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  14. My dad took me to a science museum once. They had a section where you could make paper airplanes to demonstrate all the science stuff involved in how planes fly. They gave about twelve feet to fly. Mine flew, did a flip, and nose-dived in the first foot.

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    1. Aw. I'll have my husband give you some paper-plane making lessons.

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  15. Hubby does it when others can't. LOL

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    1. I knew there was a reason I've been keeping him around. ;0)

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  16. Mine can only go 3 feet. He has me beat

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    1. That's probably as far as mine went. This thing my husband made is incredible!

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  17. That's such a cool trick, Sherry! Love flying paper planes when I was a kid too. Happy weekend, dear! xoxo

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    1. What kid doesn't love flying paper airplanes?

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  18. Wow! the paper plane looks good. We used to make paper planes that looked like the one in the picture, but we never put paper clips, and it used to fly quite well too.
    However, he has an engineer's mind, and he made your son happy.
    You have such wonderful stories about your son, I really like reading about them.

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  19. I had lots of practice with paper airplanes, sadly it was when I was to be doing something else like pay attention in class. Your son is a classic!

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    1. Haha! Making paper airplanes is definitely way more fun!

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  20. That is really cool. Mine never flew that far.

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    1. I don't think any of mine have ever flown that far, either!

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  21. Very nice. I'm experiencing a bit of paper plane envy at the moment, I must confess.

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  22. It's so funny how I was just playing with paper planes with my nephew and daughter earlier. He has this instruction guide for making different types of planes where the paper is marked with lines for folding. It's fascinating how the design affects the speed and flying. Your husband has a hidden talent. :)

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  23. I always made the ones that hooked straight up, came right back around, and bonked me right in the face. I'm very jealous. That looks like a paper stealth bomber.

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    1. I used to make planes that acted like boomerangs, too. I've improved over the years.

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  24. Now I want to get together a team of actual aeronautical engineers to devise the perfect paper plane. Think of the teenage mischief!

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  25. If the son is smart obviously father is smart. Both of them can work together to make real airplane in future.

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  26. Gosh that's one nifty plane!

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  27. That is so neat! My paper planes always loop and then nose dive!

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    1. Mine used to, too. Get the Dangerous Book for Boys. Your son would probably enjoy some of the stuff in it, and you'll learn how to make an awesome paper airplane.

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  28. Having ended up in hospital with a paper plane eye related injury they are now banned from our house.

    Still, well done to your husband for such a feat of engineering. I'm sure should he have made the plane I wouldn't have ended up in A & E.

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    1. So sorry about your paper airplane accident. I can imaging how much it would hurt having one fly into your eye!

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