What Is Lift?

If the wing meets the air nose-high, it can produce more lift — up to a point. Past that point the airflow separates and the wing stalls.

Soft glider launches often work because they keep a useful angle without demanding huge speed.

Wider wings can create more lift at lower speeds, which is why gliders float. They also create more drag, so they are poor hard-throw distance planes.

Fold a Fast Dart and a Wide Wing Glider from the same paper. Throw both gently. The glider usually stays up longer; the dart usually travels a straighter fast path when thrown harder.