# Paper Airplane Launcher
## Overview
# A Launching Platform
The [science of paper airplane folding](https://youtu.be/3BNg4fDJC8A) is a great way to learn about flight. This guide takes you through the process of building a motorized paper airplane launching platform. This can be used for fun, or as a standardized way to test different airplane designs.
The tools and materials for this project (aside from the motors and microcontroller) are things you can find around the home or in any craft store. Paired with the versatile robotics platform, [CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093), simple household materials can spring to life and take on any form your imagination desires!
This project demonstrates basic programming skills using [Microsoft MakeCode](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/makecode) and allows for easy experimentation and adaptation.
# The Electronics
In addition to the household materials listed below, you'll also want to pick up the following electronics:
### Part: Circuit Playground Express
quantity: 1
Circuit Playground Express is the perfect introduction to electronics and programming
[Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333)
### Part: Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express
quantity: 1
Creative Robotics and Interactive Construction Kit is an add-on to our popular Circuit Playground Express
[Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
### Part: CD DVD Spindle Motor
quantity: 2
These motors are typically found inside CD or DVD players and have some great benefits that make them easier to use than '130' style hobby motors
[CD DVD Spindle Motor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3882)
### Part: Sub-micro Servo - SG51R
quantity: 1
This tiny servo can rotate approximately 180 degrees and works just like a standard servo but much smaller. Good for beginners who want to make stuff move. You can use any servo code, hardware or library to control these servos.
[Sub-micro Servo - SG51R](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2201)
### Part: Servo Extension Cable - 30cm / 12" long
quantity: 1
Stretch out your servo connections with this flexible servo extension cord. It has a 3 pin shrouded "male" connector to plug your servo into and then, 30cm later, a 3 pin female connector.
[Servo Extension Cable - 30cm / 12" long ](https://www.adafruit.com/product/972)
### Part: Wheel for Micro Continuous Rotation Servo
quantity: 2
This black plastic servo wheel is equipped with a silicone tire and a press-fit design to make connecting to a servo motor quick and easy
[Wheel for Micro Continuous Rotation Servo](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2744)
### Part: Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire
quantity: 1
These compact jumper cables have a premium male header on one end and a grippy mini alligator clip on the other
[Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448)
### Part: 3xAA Battery Holder with DC jack
quantity: 1
Battery holder 3xAA batteries with 2.1mm DC jack
[3xAA Battery Holder with DC jack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3842)
### Part: Alkaline AA batteries - 3 pack
quantity: 1
These batteries are good quality at a good price, and work fantastic with any of the kits or projects that use AAs
[Alkaline AA batteries - 3 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3521)
### Part: USB cable - A/MicroB - 3ft
quantity: 1
Standard A to micro-B USB cable
[USB cable - A/MicroB - 3ft](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
# Materials
For this project you will need:
- Some large pieces of scrap corrugated cardboard
- Scissors and/or box cutter
- Hot glue & hot glue gun
- Rubber band
- [Double-sided foam tape](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003W0R4PE/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_Y2SGBb4DV10TX)
- Pen/pencil
- Small screwdriver
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/paper-airplane-launcher-with-crickit/build-the-launcher.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express
[Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our **friends!**
So if you find...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3093/guides)
### Circuit Playground Express
[Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333)
**Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides)
### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B
[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller
Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
### CD DVD Spindle Motor
[CD DVD Spindle Motor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3882)
What's this? A record player for _ants_?? Not at all! This is a **DVD/CD Spindle Motor** , that thing that's inside a CD or DVD player, that turns the disc around really fast. These motors have some great benefits that make them
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3882)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3882/guides)
### Wheel for Micro Continuous Rotation FS90R Servo
[Wheel for Micro Continuous Rotation FS90R Servo](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2744)
We're keepin' it _wheel_ with this one!
Need a great drive solution for your little robotic friends? This black plastic **Micro Continuos Rotation Servo Wheel** is equipped with a silicone...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2744)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2744/guides)
### 3 x AA Battery Holder with 2.1mm Plug
[3 x AA Battery Holder with 2.1mm Plug](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3842)
Here's another addition to our growing family of [AA battery holders](https://www.adafruit.com/category/563). A holder for three (3) AA batteries! It's got an 8" long power cable with a 2.1mm DC jack at the end, and, oh yes, it's in classy...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3842)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3842/guides)
### Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces
[Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448)
When working with unusual non-header-friendly surfaces, these handy cables will be your best friends! No longer will you have long, cumbersome strands of alligator clips. These compact jumper cables have a premium male header on one end and a grippy mini alligator clip on the...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3448/guides)
### Servo Extension Cable - 30cm / 12" long -
[Servo Extension Cable - 30cm / 12" long -](https://www.adafruit.com/product/972)
Stretch out your servo connections with this flexible servo extension cord. It has a 3 pin shrouded "male" connection to plug your servo into and then, 30cm later, a 3 pin female connection. It even keeps the common red/black/white color coding. A great add-on to our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/972)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/972/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express.md)
- [Stumble-Bot](https://learn.adafruit.com/stumble-bot-with-circuit-playground-and-crickit.md)
- [CircuitPython Hardware: PCA9685 PWM & Servo Driver](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-pca9685-pwm-and-servo-driver.md)
- [Labo Piano Light FX](https://learn.adafruit.com/labo-piano-light-fx.md)
- [Building CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/building-circuitpython.md)
- [Archimedes' Boat](https://learn.adafruit.com/archimedes-boat.md)
- [Thanksgiving Robotic Turkey Hand with Circuit Playground Express and Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/talking-turkey-hand.md)
- [Crickit Powered Holiday Diorama](https://learn.adafruit.com/crickit-powered-holiday-diorama.md)
- [Buttermilk Boat with Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/boat-with-circuit-playground-express.md)
- [Hello World of Robotics with Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/hello-world-of-robotics-with-crickit.md)
- [Crickit Controlled Animatronic Eyeball](https://learn.adafruit.com/crickit-controlled-animatronic-eyeball.md)
- [Installing Microsoft MakeCode for Adafruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/installing-makecode-for-adafruit.md)
- [Motorized Marble Machine](https://learn.adafruit.com/marble-run.md)
- [Make It Log](https://learn.adafruit.com/make-it-data-log-spreadsheet-circuit-playground.md)
- [Circuit Playground Express Perk-up Ears](https://learn.adafruit.com/perk-up-ears.md)
- [AdaBox 008](https://learn.adafruit.com/adabox008.md)