The Muhlestein Family

The Balsa Plane

August 20th, 2006

Well, I’ve had this balsawood airplane for a couple years now. Somehow, it even survived our move without becoming balsa scrap. A month or so ago I decided I was pretty pathetic for still having the frame not tissued so we could fly it. The boys and I (OK, they just watched) finished it shortly thereafter and we’ve been flying it off and on when there isn’t any wind in the park near our home.

I decided I better document the process before it somehow gets destroyed. We flew it about 5 times yesterday. Each time I’d wind it up a little further. Previously to yesterday, the most I had wound it was about 450 times. Yesterday I started out at 500 and went to 700. Here is me the boys ready to watch the plane fly with 700 winds on the rubber band:

I had enough time with it flying around that I could get the camera out and take a picture while it was still flying. It really flies pretty well. It’ll go quite a ways on 700 winds. Luckily, it flies in a broad circle so that you don’t have to chase it very far:

I was going to fly it again but I got to about 200 winds and the rubber band broke. I guess 700 winds is a little much. I’ll go get a new rubber band for it and then perhaps 5-600 turns will do the trick from now on.

Entry Filed under: Family