Projects For Learning: The Model Wright Flyer

Materials Needed:

• One styrofoam meat tray or two egg carton tops.
• Wooden toothpicks
• One penny
• Scissors
• Tape
• White glue

Procedure:

• Cut patterns to trace onto the styrofoam.

• Cut out all the parts. Shape the wings and elevators to an airfoil or round the rough edges.

• Glue each rudder upright to one end of the body. Attach one to the right edge and one to the left edge. Then glue the rudder top into position.

• Assemble the elevator by putting glue on the sharp ends of 5 half-toothpicks. Stick each into one of the 5 dots in the bottom elevator. Fit the top elevator on the 5 half toothpicks, then glue and set aside to dry.

• Dip the ends of 18 toothpicks in glue and push them carefully into position (puncturing the styrofoam) as indicated by the dots on the pattern. Do the lower wing first. Apply glue to the other end of the toothpicks and carefully place the top wing into position. Allow to dry. Glue a half-toothpick onto the indicated struts (toothpicks) to look like propellers.

• Glue the wings to the center of the body, and glue the elevator to the front.

• Tape a dime to the bottom of the body between the wings and elevator.

To Use It:

After the glue has dried, kneel down and fly your model, nice and low, just like Orville and Wilbur Wright did in 1903.