Once a year we have a Sqn challenge where all members, both staff and cadets, are required to design/build a paper plane!

The objective: fly further than everybody else!.

Not too taxing you might think, as the simple designs do work well, but if you have the principles of flight knowledge and airframes knowledge that you gain as a cadet, how much better could you make a plane out of only paper or cardboard?

The Winner gets a box of sweets of their choice!
The first time this was run a Cpl spent 3 weeks analysing different designs, and lost badly. Whilst a team of 2 Nco's turned up with a "plane" made of cardboard that was nearly bigger than them and came 3rd.

2003 saw the return of the 'paper monster' type of aircraft (example pictured right) which demonstrated that a paper plane is capable of a 90 degree turn mid-air!
Below are links to some very interesting and usefull resources:
Please be aware that these will open in a new window

  • Lots of different styles and types of planes
  • The self styled "Best plane in the world"
  • The Sabertooth!
  • Paper planes by the World Record holder 1983 -> 1996
  • 10 Original paper aeroplane designs
  • Some clever designs fromAmazingpaperairplanes.com
  • The scientific approach - With trimming & flying tips!
  • A little off theme but this Paper water bomb is really clever

    • Previous Winners
    1999
    		 Winner not recorded


    2000
    		 Winner not recorded


    2001
    		 The 2001 contest was won - by a long distance by Cdt Evans {Prize choice -a box of cola bottles}.
    His design did cause some complaints from other entrants, the reason being that he had used a pencil that was stuck into the fuselage as balast. But as i reminded them, the plane must be mainly made out of paper/cardboard, which his was, and the pencil was used simply as balast. Some others did use paperclips and bluetack so the ruling stayed.

    2002
    		 Won by probationer, who is the sister of one of our male cadets and only attended sqn for a month Unfortunatley this was the last time we saw her and so her prize was never awarded. Much to the annoyance of her brother who laid claim to the prize by proxy. (not a chance C.O.)

    So next year it will be a roll-over!

    2003
    		 This year won by Cdt Mey, with the smallest entry ever.

    Note the looks of dis-belief on faces of some of the senior cadets who were sure that they were going to win! (ha-ha C.O.)


    2004
    		 A damaged Cpl Pyeburn takes up the traditional Nco "you won with that!" look as a reluctant Cdt Mullis models the winning entry for the web site
    The curse of the paper plane challenge continued this year with it once again being won by a probationer for the 3rd time in a row, leaving the Nco's stunned into scilence after a lot of fighting talk in the run-up to the throw off.