The Great International Paper Airplane Book

Book excerpt: Paper airplanes as serious science? No longer shamefully relegated to the back rows of elementary-school sports stadiums, paper airplanes come into their own with this amusing -- and instructive -- book. The Great International Paper Airplane Book documents the proceedings of the first (and possibly only) International Paper Airplane Competition conducted by Scientific American. In addition to the behind-the-scenes story and official records of the Competition, readers will discover intriguing mini-essays on the historical, aesthetic, technological, and folkloric aspects of the paper airplane and on its startling implications for the future of aviation. Best of all, there are dozens of cut-fold-and-fly-them-yourself planes to experiment with. Combining real science with outright fun, this book appeals to paper airplane enthusiasts and would-be aviators of every age.