Tuesday, February 28, 2012

ROLL ON YOU BEARS: Sure, Joe Ayoob wasn't a very good quarterback for Cal Berkeley. But he is the world record holder for a paper-airplane toss.

4 comments:

  1. isaac_spaceman1:58 PM

    So much to love in that video -- especially:
    1.  The arc of the plane, with the steep rise, steep fall, and then almost endless flat glide.  Great physics/aerodynamics question about what flattened it out;
    2.  How huge the college QB looks next to the aerospace geeks; and
    3.  The fact that there was a moment of doubt about whether the plane was just going to crash into the far wall, giving the record the good kind of asterisk.  Though I suspect that the guy leaping out of the way at the last minute may have had some effect on the trajectory. 

    I have a kindergartener doing a science project on paper airplanes, so I'm definitely going to show him this. 

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  2. From the plane's constructor's website:

    The aircraft is made from 100gsm, A4 paper and a piece of 25mm x 30mm cellophane tape.

    <p>BOOK AN APPEARANCE –
    </p><p>From international conventions to company conferences, The Paper Airplane Guy puts on an aerial circus second to none. Launching a product? Paper airplanes can carry your message to an audience in memorable fashion. The Paper Airplane Guy can help you craft an event that is unique, fun, and attention grabbing. From the very first throw, paper airplanes are engaging and entertaining.
    </p><p>A single toss can send a plane screaming across the room at high speed, or gently gliding to a soft landing. Some have landing gear. They spin, tumble, loop, circle back, flap their wings, flip over and fly back upside down, and some are internationally award winning. Some are just for fun, and some designs can fly for a half hour or more.
    </p><p>Weaving your corporate message into the stories of how the planes get invented, ties your company to a winner. Illustrating your corporate philosophy and creative process is easy with the Paper Airplane Guy. Your logo and tag line can be printed on every airplane. Your ideas literally take flight, enhancing your position as an innovator and creative problem solver.
    <span>Your presentation can get interactive. Taking a folding lesson from the master guarantees your airplane flies well. Learning the secrets of aerobatic maneuvers is just plain fun. Use paper airplanes for team building. Create a contest for a convention booth. Or, just bring in the Paper Airplane Guy to make an annual meeting really take off.</span> </p>

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  3. The Pathetic Earthling3:25 PM

    Isaac - it seems high for ground effect, but that's certainly consistent with the trajectory.  

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_(aircraft)

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  4. isaac_spaceman3:32 PM

    I love that feeling when that kicks in -- like someone suddenly greased the air and you're going sliding.

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