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Ask an Explainer

Q:

Paper airplanes don't have the "classic" airfoil shape, so how do they fly?

A:

They use the angle of attack of their flat wings to create lift. The angle of attack is the angle at which oncoming airflow meets the airfoil. Lift is generated from the same low pressure (Bernoulli effect) as with a curved wing although not nearly as much.

Ask an Explainer
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:27 am
Categories:
Aerodynamics
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