You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.

Brains On is supported on part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

There are several secrets or real keys to making a paper airplane fly well.

And really they're not secrets because I'm going to tell you.

My name is Kim Blackburn and my job is working for the United States Air Force

as an air nautical engineer doing research on the next generation of air vehicles.

But my passion is paper airplanes.

I've been fortunate enough to set the Guinness record for time in the air for paper airplanes four times.

The very first key to having a good paper airplane flight is starting with a good design.

Some of the classics that we know, like the Dart, are classic because they actually work.

If you've ever been on a plane, you know the drill.

Put the tray table up.

Make sure your seat isn't reclined, fasten your seatbelt, and get ready for takeoff.

The plane taxis down the runway, speeding up, and then you feel the wheels leave the ground.

The plane continues to climb into the sky.

The car is in Hebel and Houses, and trees get smaller and smaller.

The captain comes on and lets you know that you've reached your cruising altitude.

This routine happens thousands of times every day.

So although it's commonplace now, the idea of being able to fly a plane around the world,

let alone across town, seem like a fantasy not so long ago.

We're going to find out how planes work and how they were invented.

And we've got some more great paper airplane tips too.

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