Flying High at Questacon

6 June 2009

Visitors to Questacon—The National Science and Technology Centre today explored the science behind hot air ballooning, paper planes, rockets and more at Flight @ Questacon.

During Flight @ Questacon, Canberra’s own paper plane Champions Dylan Parker and James Norton shared their paper plane making secrets with visitors. Dylan and James are Australian Champion ‘Papernauts’ in their respective categories of Distance and Time Aloft/Hangtime. The University of Canberra students recently competed in the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals in Austria, finishing 3rd and 11th.

In workshops with the Papernauts today, Questacon visitors made their own world class paper planes as Dylan and James explored the basics of flight, the effects of nature on flight and demonstrated how to make different types of paper planes.

‘It is wonderful to see so many people of different ages enjoying themselves while investigating the science behind flight. We were delighted to see visitors challenging Australia’s champion paper plane makers with their own paper planes. We may even have inspired some paper plane future world champions,’ said Professor Graham, Durant, Questacon Director.

‘Visitors to Questacon today discovered many fascinating aspects of flight including; the science and history of hot air ballooning, the impact of aviation on the environment and mechanics of rockets,’ said Graham Durant.

Other flight themed activities at Questacon included tethered hot air balloon rides, rocket launches and investigation of a variety of flight related science during Spectacular Science Shows by the Questacon Excited Particles. Young scientists made their own helicopters and attended Mini Flight shows—especially aimed at 2-6 year olds.