SUPPLIES
- Dowel rod (1/2 inch in diameter)
- Wood glue
- Piece of balsa wood 1 inch wide and at least six inches long (no more than 12 inches long)
- Sandpaper
- Ruler
Overview
All children love toys that fly. However, just because a toy flies does not mean it has to be expensive. You can make a simple wooden helicopter that works on the same principles as many types of seed pods simply by using a single dowel rod, a piece of balsa wood and some glue. Then, send your child outside and tag along for a fun-filled afternoon of kid-powered aviation.
Step 1
Round off the ends of the balsa wood. This is going to be your propeller, so make the ends smooth and slightly rounded at the corners.
Step 2
Glue one end of the dowel rod into the center of the strip of balsa wood. Use the ruler to make sure it is in the center, both lengthwise and widthwise. Use plenty of glue.
Step 3
Hold the dowel rod in place until the glue sets to make sure that the dowel rod is perfectly perpendicular with the length of balsa wood. You can use a glue gun and hot glue for better reinforcement and faster drying if you wish.
Step 4
Try out your helicopter. By holding the dowel rod between your palms and simultaneously spinning the rod by rubbing your hands together and throwing the helicopter upward, you will be able to make your homemade helicopter fly for quite some distance.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Experiment with your helicopter and different angles to see what makes it fly the highest or the farthest.
