Engineers put aerodynamics to the test on paper

  • Published
  • By Ryan Larsen
  • Hilltop Times correspondent
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  To celebrate National Engineers Week a number of Hill Air Force Base Engineers launched and flight tested 14 new aircraft designs.

The aircraft were of the paper variety constructed out of standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch copy paper. Tests were conducted at the Warrior Fitness Center basketball court on the afternoon of Feb. 22.

Rather than gaining scientific data and information from these tests, they were as Earl R. Hoffman put it, "to have fun and to stretch the engineering brain." Hoffman also served the contest as the Center Test Authority and as such was given the right to disqualify any aircraft for lack of aerodynamic surfaces. Therefore crumpling the paper into a ball and throwing it was not allowed. Although mostly for fun, the competition tested the participant's knowledge of engineering, aerodynamics and origami skills.

Contestants were given five minutes to construct an aircraft out of a piece of paper. They were allowed to use two feet of tape and a paper clip if desired. In all there were 14 contestants, 11 Hill engineers, two children and one photographer.

This year's contest was similar to the one held two years ago except this time around accuracy was the goal. Previously, aircraft were judged on hang time, this year the center of the basketball court was marked with a circle and crossed with an "X." The goal was to get the aircraft as close to the middle of the circle as possible. After three tries the distances would be averaged and a winner would be declared.

The launch platform was 15.6 feet above the court on the second level of the gym. The landing point was approximately 47.2 feet horizontally from the launch point.

The test aircraft were marked with tail number designations which corresponded with the person who constructed and launched the aircraft. Most aircraft were made using the standard paper airplane folding methods, but every plane differed. Some planes were designed to have more of a stream lined shape, like a jet and others a wider winged craft, similar to a glider.

Two contestants went with a more radical engine cell design which looked like a paper cup with the bottom cut off. Surprisingly this design did actually fly or glide, but without stabilizers to guide the craft it was at the mercy of the drafts in the fitness center. Both contestants' aircraft with this design ended up drifting backwards and being among the farthest away from the landing point.

Contestant Danny Barron of OO-ALC/ENS, said that upon seeing that his circular design flew, "It just goes to show that this is not all about propulsion."

The two youngest participants were Lisa Starrett and Michael Starrett, daughter and son of Elizabeth Starrett, Hill Scientific and Technical Information Officer. She has brought them along the last few years of this contest because she said, "I enjoy it, and for the sake of my kids I thought it would be educational."

Michael, 12, has participated the last few years and the paper airplane contest two years ago was the catalyst for a science experiment of his. The experiment compared the aerodynamics of different paper airplane designs. The project took second place in the state science fair, a special award from the Navy and a college scholarship.

According to Michael, "The contest was a lot more fun than the bridge building one last year. There is a lot more competition this year."

First, second and third place contestants received a crystal award and the others received a certificate of participation.

The winner of the contest was Tim Plaizier who reported, "It seems the dart approach, rather than the glider approach, is more accurate at getting the plane to the target."