Wright Flyer *** Flying Paper Cardstock Glider

CAP Wright Flyer Glider

Wright Flyer download Word Document / PDF Document

This is the airplane that began the age of powered heavier than air flight on December 17, 1903 at Kittyhawk, North Carolina.

Wright Brothers elementary school level theme packet (1.82MB pdf file) teacher resource material including lesson plans, activities, handouts, etc.
Wright Brothers middle school level theme packet (2.24MB pdf file) teacher resource material including lesson plans, activities, handouts, etc.
National Standards chart for Wright Brothers unit (11.9 KB pdf file)

More information about the Wright Brothers historic flight and the Wright Flyer can be found at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution website.

Instruction for printing and assembling the Wright Flyer

Instructions with Photos

Printing
1. Download and save the Word file in a convenient place, like your desktop.
2. Print the pattern on your color printer using white, heavy card stock.

Materials Needed
pattern printed on white heavy index card stock
1 Scissors
Glue

Construction
1. Rough cut all pieces to separate.
2. Carefully cut out all pieces.
4. Glue L1 and R1 together.
5. Fold up vertical stabilizer tabs on R2 & L2.
6. Glue L2 to L1 and R2 to R1.
7. Continue gluing fuselage pieces through R9 and L9.
8. Fold out the tabs on the wing struts and glue two struts to either side of the center (short) piece.
9. Repeat the process for the remaining three wing struts.
10. Fold the canard strut tabs up and fold and glue the canard struts in half.
11. Fold wing stiffener under and glue to the under side of the main wing.
Note: As you finish gluing the components, press them under a heavy book and allow to dry.
12. Glue the three pieces (each) of the upper and lower canards together.
13. Warp the canards to match the curve on the canard support on the fuselage
14. Cut slots in leading and trailing edge in the main wing at the wing root.
15. Warp the leading edge of the upper and lower main wings to form a wing chamber.
16. Bend the wings in the middle to make a slight dihedral on the two main wings.
17. Attach the four wing struts to the rectangular boxes on the top of the lower wing.
18. Attach the lower main wing to the tabs on the fuselage.
19. Attach the rectangular patch piece over the cuts in the lower main wing.
20. Attach the upper main wing to the tabs on the fuselage and the tops of the wing struts.
21. Attach the rectangular patch piece over the cuts in the upper main wing.
22. Attach the vertical stabilizer to the tabs on the tail booms.
23. Attach the canard struts to the top of the lower canard.
24. Attach the lower canard to the canard support on the fuselage.
25. Attach the upper canard to the tops of the canard struts.
26. Trim, Fly and Enjoy.