In this project, you'll see how easy it is to make mini-boomerangs that really fly! Not only do they fly, but these little boomerangs return to you just like the real thing. These tiny boomerangs are launched with the flick of a finger, and can be used inside with no trouble!
Select from a variety of printable patterns, including two special boomerang pattern sheets with boomerangs in different shapes for learning about aerodynamics. You can explore the concepts of air foils and angles while having fun with these flying toys. There re also patterns for larger "outside" boomerangs.
Choose the boomerangs that you want to make—plain, colored, with or without designs. The Angle Test and Airfoil Test patterns are for conducting experiments in aerodynamics—there's more about this at the end of the project.
Download and print the mini-boomerang pattern. It is best to print on cardstock. If you don't have any cardstock, print on paper and glue to lightweight cardboard. Bonus patterns: Checkout the tips section for printable patterns with larger boomerangs.
Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
Depending upon the pattern printed, you can color or add designs to your boomerangs.
If you have printed the boomerang pattern on computer paper, the boomerangs need to be stiffened. Skip this step if you printed on cardstock.
Make a rough cut about ¼" beyond the outline of each boomerang. Glue each boomerang to cardstock or lightweight cardboard—index cards, old greeting cards and cereal box cardboard all work well.
Cut the boomerangs on the outline. Follow the curve carefully to get smooth edges.
Cut out the launchers to try the boomerang launcher technique for getting your boomerang in the air.
The boomerang is ready to fly!
There are various ways to launch the mini-boomerangs. All involve flicking an arm of the boomerang to get it spinning. Experiment with each way to find which works best for you.
One way to launch the boomerang is to flick it off the edge of a book—avoid books with slick covers. Hold the book in one hand, and tilt it up a little. Place the boomerang on the edge of the book near the top. Be sure one arm hangs over the edge, and that the point of the boomerang faces away from you. Now, flick the arm hanging over the edge.
Tip: You can also flick the mini-boomerang off a table edge.
Hold the point of the boomerang gently in one hand. Holding it between the thumb and the first joint of the index finger works well. Flick the arm nearest to you with the other index finger.
This method is like the finger launch, but uses a cardstock launcher. Cut the launcher from cardstock, and fold in half on the dashed line. Hold the point of the boomerang gently with the open end of the launcher. Flick the arm nearest to you with the index finger of the other hand.
The two arms of an Aboriginal Australian boomerang are airfoils. Like an airfoil on an airplane, each arm has a convex upper surface and a flat bottom surface. The boomerang spins as it flies through the air. On one arm, the leading edge is on the outside curve, and on the other, the leading edge is on the inside curve. Boomerangs fly in large circles, figure eights, or spirals. The flow of the air around the airfoils and the spinning motion together cause these flight paths.
While our mini-boomerangs don't have all the features of an Aboriginal Australian boomerang, you can learn a bit about aerodynamics by experimenting with different shapes of mini-boomerangs.
Do boomerangs with different angles between the arms fly differently? Use the book launch method to do test flights with the six boomerangs on the Angle Test pattern. Did the boomerangs fly differently? Which spun fastest? Flew farthest? What did you learn?
Each arm of the boomerang is an airfoil. Does airfoil size affect how the boomerang flies? Using the book launch method, do test flights for each of the six shapes on the Airfoil Test pattern. What did you observe? Do larger airfoils provide more lift?
That's it! Your mini-boomerangs are ready to fly!