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Paper Airplanes and more
The history of the paper airplane probably goes
back to the first pages of papyrus which were thrown at
the trash can. The first flying devices to use paper
were kites in China about 2000 years ago. Early hot air
balloons, such as the first balloons made by the
Montgofier Brothers in France in the late 1700's, also
used paper in their construction. Their early model
balloons were all paper, and their first human-carrying
balloons of 1783 were cloth lined with paper. The origin
of paper airplanes is somewhat of a mystery.
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The earliest reference to paper airplanes I know is that Jack Northrop
used paper airplanes in the 1930s to help form his ideas for flying wing airplanes.
In a sense, those paper airplanes helped shape a corporation and led to the B-2 stealth bomber. I have also received email from people
who remember making paper airplanes in their youth 60 years ago. Apparently, paper airplanes were common then, so paper airplanes could
likely have even inspired the Wright Brothers.
Paper airplanes may be where an interest in aviation begins, but it is quickly followed by plastic model airplanes and moving on to the more
exotic radio controlled model airplanes. The hobby of rc model airplanes continues right on into adulthood, and one of my best friend still
builds and flies these incredible model airplanes. Some are even powered by tiny jet engines!
Today the most in demand rc models are the palm sized helicopters which are small enough to be flown around your living room! They are very
cute, and teach young children great motor skills which will be useful later in life.
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