Today, for this afternoon’s Step It Up version of flying, I learnt about how humans tried to copy a flying squirrel’s talent of flying. I found this fact very interesting: there is such thing as wingsuits! I never knew that until now, and after a brief introduction to a wingsuit. I had to pretend to be an engineer, designing and making a model of a wingsuit. Because this was not a real wingsuit and I couldn’t fit in it, I used my squirrel from the kick start activity to pretend to be a mini me. I folded an origami wingsuit and attached my squirrel on top of the wingsuit. Here I am giving a little boost so that my squirrel on the wingsuit can last in the air for about 2 seconds. Above is the wingsuit and my squirrel on the wingsuit. If I could change something for next time, I would definitely like to fly it somewhere not so cramped!
Would you rather be a that squirrel and fly like that or be a human that actually flies in a real wingsuit?
Kia ora Isa!
I found it really interesting how you stepped into the role of an engineer to design your own model wingsuit. It’s fascinating how humans have looked at animals like the flying squirrel to learn how to glide through the air.
Using origami was a very creative way to build the structure for your squirrel. Getting it to stay in the air for 2 seconds is a great achievement for a paper prototype! I also liked your idea of finding a less cramped space to give it a proper test flight.
To answer your question: I think I would rather be a human flying in a real wingsuit! It would be incredible to see the view from so high up and feel the speed.
If you were going to build a ‘Version 2’ of your design, what is one change you would make to try and help the squirrel stay in the air even longer?
Keep up the wonderful blogging!
– Zana
Kia Ora Zana,
It’s Isa here. Thank you for your comment. I liked reading what you said about my wingsuit activity. It was fun trying to make the squirrel glide, even if it was only for a couple of seconds.
If I made a Version 2, I would make the wings wider. I think bigger wings would catch more air and help it stay up for longer instead of dropping so fast. I might also try using lighter paper so it doesn’t fall as quickly.
From Isa