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The Flight Theory

THE WILD WEST OF FLIGHT THEORY

The cause-and-effect theories are far from settled science. This is especially true for really small wings like paper airplanes. Through rigorous observation and measurements, we have very good mathematical models that predict with stunning accuracy how a large wing of a certain shape and curve will behave-how much it will lift and when it will stall. Some will argue this is all that's required. They say the rest is just an endless chicken-and-egg argument. In my opinion, that's giving up. Where's the scientific inquiry, I ask you? What's really great about paper airplanes is that as wings get smaller, the airflow gets more chaotic. The models don't work so well at predicting outcomes. So, we're way out at the western most outpost of the Wild West of flight theory. What we can observe, document, and prove may eventually lead to a greater understanding of full-scale fight. This may be useful information to memorize if you insist on trying out your newest planes in a classroom. It's a bit of a fudge, but it may get you off the hook if a plane goes wildly off course and bonks the blackboard, or worse, the teacher.

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