Wooden Model Planes
Lightweight flying model planes are actually older than the real thing. Children were flying model planes based on George Cayley's gliders in Victorian times.
Balsa gliders, rubber band powered and motor powered planes are still very popular and can be built at very little cost.
balsa wood aircraft
Many models of WWI planes are little more than scaled down plans of the real thing. However, stabilising surfaces such as tail fins are often disproportionatly large for improved ease of flying by remote control.
This closeup shows the wing construction in detail. The spars (marked f2, f3, f4 and f5) are glued to both the leading and trailing edges of the wing. Additional stability is supplied by two thin 'stringers' of balsa running the length of the wing.