Aerodynamics, Wing Design & Flight Optimization
A paper airplane is a wind tunnel in your hand. At Reynolds numbers between 20,000 and 100,000, these flat-plate wings exploit a regime where laminar flow, thin airfoil theory, and the shifting center of pressure conspire to produce surprisingly stable gliders. Explore the forces of lift and drag, compare dart versus glider designs, optimize your throw angle, and chase the world record of 226 feet set by John Collins’ “Suzanne” in 2012.
Understand the core forces that govern paper airplane flight—lift, drag, pressure distributions, and the boundary layer.
Adjust angle of attack, airspeed, and camber to see how lift and drag coefficients change. Visualize streamlines, force vectors, and the CL/CD curve in real time.
Visualize boundary layer flow around a flat-plate wing at different speeds. See laminar-to-turbulent transition, separation bubbles, and pressure distributions unique to low-Re flight.
Explore how weight placement, wing angles, and planform shape determine whether a paper airplane flies straight or spirals into the ground.
Drag the CG marker along the airplane and watch stability change. Find the sweet spot where CG sits just ahead of the center of pressure for smooth, self-correcting flight.
Set the wing dihedral angle and apply wind gusts to test lateral stability. See the rear view tilt, roll history graph, and learn why wings angled up like a Y resist rolling.
Adjust wingspan, chord, taper ratio, and sweep angle to design your wing. See how aspect ratio affects glide efficiency, speed, and stability with real-time performance bars.
Compare designs, optimize throw parameters, and calculate the glide ratio that determines how far your airplane travels.
Launch a narrow, fast dart and a wide, gentle glider side by side. Compare distance, hang time, and trajectory to see the fundamental design tradeoff in action.
Sweep through every throw angle from −10° to 60° and find the optimal launch angle for maximum distance. Click the canvas to throw at any angle you choose.
Launch from adjustable heights and see how wing area, mass, and aspect ratio determine glide ratio. Trail color shows airspeed; find the best L/D speed for maximum range.
Design your own paper airplane from scratch and try to break the world record.
Full design sandbox: set wingspan, chord, taper, sweep, dihedral, elevon trim, and nose folds. Load presets for dart, glider, or Suzanne designs, then throw and compare results.
Can you beat 69.14 meters? Tune throw power, angle, nose weight, and wing trim to recreate the Suzanne record throw. Watch ascent, transition, and glide phases unfold.