Spirit of St. Louis *** Flying Paper Cardstock Glider

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Spirit of St. Louis

Charles Lindbergh elementary school level theme packet (2.55MB pdf file) teacher resource material including lesson plans, activities, handouts, etc.
Charles Lindbergh middle school level theme packet (2.18MB pdf file) teacher resource material including lesson plans, activities, handouts, etc.
National Standards chart for Charles Lindbergh unit (8.79 KB pdf file)

More information about Charles Lindbergh's trans-Atlantic solo flight and the Spirit of St. Louis can be found at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution website and the Charles Lindbergh site.

Instruction for printing and assembling the Spirit of St. Louis Glider

Printing
1. Download and save the Word file in a convenient place, like your desktop.
2. Print the pattern on your color printer using white, heavy card stock.

Materials Needed
pattern printed on white heavy index card stock
1 U.S. penny, one 2 Euro cent piece, lead foil or other sutable weight (approx. 2.5 grams) for use as a nose weight.
1 Scissors
Stick Glue (Elmer's Glue will work but it tends to be a little messy.)
ruler or straight edge

Construction
1. Rough cut all pieces to separate.
2. Carefully cut out all pieces.
3. Use a U.S. penny as a nose weight. Cut out penny slot in L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, & R3.
Note: If a United States one cent piece is unavailable, find a weight of approx. 2.5 to 3 grams. (A two Euro Cent coin works fine.)
4. Glue L1 and R1 together.
5. Fold up hoizontal stabilizer tabs and landing gear brace on R2 & L2.
6. Glue L2 to L1 and R2 to R1.
7. Fold up main wing tabs on R3 & L3 before gluing to R2 and L2.
8. Insert penny and glue R4 to R3 and L4 to L3.
9. Glue R5 to R4 and L5 to L4.
10. Fold wing stiffener under and glue to main wing.
Note: At this point if time is available, press main wing and fuselage under a heavy book and allow to dry overnight.
11. Cut slots in leading and trailing edge in the main wing at the wingroot.
12. Warp the leading edge of the main wing and make a slight dihedral.
13. Fold up and glue the first section of the landing gear brace to the fuselage.
14. Fold and glue the main gear strut.
15. Glue the three sections of the left and right main landing gear together.
16. Crease the landing gear strut at the center and bend slightly.
17. Crease and fold down the main gear strut so that they are straight up and down.
18. Glue main gear to the landing gear brace.
19. Glue wheels to the gear strut and the top strut to the wing.
20. Attach the main wing to the tabs on the fuselage.
21. Attach the top window piece over the cuts in the main wing.
22. Insert the horizontal stabilizer in the slot at the tail of the fuselage and glue to the tabs.
23. Trim, Fly and Enjoy.