High-Wire Flyer

Orville and Wilbur would be proud. And possibly a bit riled up.

ADDED May 21, 2009

Anything that moves is inherently interesting to kids. Keeping that in mind, we made a really cool zip line flyer the other day out of some simple things that we had around the house. It was awesome and the end result looked like this.

Here are the simple, household items my kids and I used to create what we call our "High-Wire Flyer:" some paper or an empty basket from a pint of strawberries, two paper clips, a string of about 15 feet, one quarter and two places to tie the string! Easy.

First, start by making a paper airplane. Luckily, you don't need to be fancy or an aeronautical engineer: the classic fold and fly model paper airplane will do just. Second, bend the two paper clips to form an "S" shape, and carefully stick one end of each "S" clip through the top middle of the top plane. Next, tape one quarter to the front of the plane (two if you can afford it in this economy) and finally, tie one end of the string to a tree, banister, slide or clothes line and tie the other end lower than the first, to a rock, shrub, chair or outdoor water valve. (You need to make a path that travels from high to low.) Remember, the more extreme your line's angle, the faster your plane will fly. Now, 3,2,1 launch! With a small push your plane will travel quickly down the line making a perfect landing every time.

If you are really handy or have more than one kid, try making parallel lines and you can race planes. If you have room in your yard, try crossing two lines and you can have an exciting mid-air dog fight! As with everything we make here at TIF, we suggest that the kids color the plane, because everyone knows that will make it go faster. Or at least look faster.

To the skies, people! And we know you have a choice when you fly, so thank you for choosing Today is Fun.