World War I Balsa Wood Glider

World War I Balsa Wood Glider

Balsa Wood Toy Glider - Rubber Band Powered Airplanes Wing Span: 12 Inches Age: 6 and up. WWI Biplane - nifty little balsa toy glider airplane. Fun little balsa wood airplane to fly Balsa wood Biplane reminiscent of World War 1 fighters. The spacing of distinctive double wings is maintained by sturdy plastic wing holders.



A short history of the Biplane
Biplanes were the first airplanes which made their appearance. The double wings have the advantage of providing more lift than a single wing airplane. The wings were held apart by struts and cables were used to pull the two wings tight to the struts. But the two wings and all those cables also increased drag which tended to limit the speed and manuverability of this type of craft.

The biplane was used extensively during World War 1. Larger three and four wing craft were built mostly to be used as bombers. But the developement of better wing structures caused single wing aircraft to become the dominant type of airplane in the 1930's.

The first type of biplanes were called "pusher biplanes" because the motor was mounted behind the wing and the prop pushed the airplane along. The original Wright Flyer was such a craft. Just before World War I "tractor biplanes", or planes in which the motor was mounted at the front of the craft were developed. This balsa wood glider plane is reminiscent of those early airplanes. The toy airplane is fun to fly, and can help to teach a little aviation history in the process.

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