The date of the first model glider is unknown, but for centuries, since people started to understand the basic principles of flight, thev have inevitably used models of different kinds an their attempts to design flying machines. The gliders in this book are more sophisticated than the folded-paper darts that excited most of us when we were children, but they perform much better, and the variety of their shapes and sizes is more pleasing. Building ving machines is a fascinating pastime. With a htele patience, anvone over twelve years old will find the gliders un this book relatively easy to assemble, though it would be advisable to tackle one or two of the simpler models first — Blue Man, Stella or White Knight—before launching into the far more demanding Triple Blind, for example. Whether they are simple or more complicated, however, all the gliders are made up of very similar elements, which means that the experience that vou acquire in assembling your first example will help you when vou move on to other models. Before vou start work, make sure that you have the following equipment at hand.

* A pair of sharp scissors or a sharp little craft knife like a scalpel.

* A ruler, preferably made of metal, since it will be thinner. A plastic or wooden ruler will do, but its edges must be clean and straight. ® Two pieces of wooden dowel, one Ve” (3 mm) and the other Ne” (5 mm) in diameter. Both should be at least 11” (280 mm) long. (Dowel can be bought from almost any model or craft-supply store. Alternatively, you may be lucky enough to have access to knitting needles of the required dimensions!)

* Paper glue. It is important to use a glue that is not too liquid, since that will tend to distort the paper. Some glues (balsa cement, for example) shrink on drying, which also leads to distortion unless they are used sparingly. What 1 have found best for the purpose is stick glue—Pritt Stick is a well-known example. It is very easy and clean to use and is quite strong enough to hold these gliders together.

* A clean, flat surface, such as a plastic-topped table, on which to press out and assemble the parts. Make sure to give yourself plenty of room.

Separate, detailed diagrams and instructions are provided to help you assemble each glider, but you will find the following general instructions useful for all models. Read them first, as they will take much of the risk and sweat out of assernbling even the most complicated paper gliders.

Michael Johnson was born in Yorkshire and graduated from York College of Art. He worked in a major London design studio before becoming a freelance in 1960 and has illustrated and designed for publishing and advertising companies throughout Europe. He spent some tine in New York working on magazine illustrations for McCalls, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and Good Housekeeping and, from 1973 until 1975, worked in West Germany as a consultant art director and illustrator. He published an illustrated book, Angela's Rainbow, in 1983.

Michael Johnson has also designed a variety of things from furniture to racing-car parts and competition model gliders. He has been interested in aerodynamics and gliders since the age of twelve and, as well as travelling, has also enjoyed cycling and racing cars.