Indoor Boomerang - Maple Series

Once again I found success in nature … this time in the seeds of the maple tree. This series of models is once again aimed at everyone who likes to try things at home and doesn’t want to miss out on the fun of throwing a boomerang, even when the weather says no.
 

🎬Quick Overview🎬

In the video I briefly show all four versions in action, and there is also a small look into the design process. You can see how I created the original base design.

Preparation
The wing tips have a fold line. At this point, the ends of the wings should be bent slightly. Just a little!

How to Throw
These indoor models do not require any wind.
Use very little force, but a lot of wrist rotation. Spin is key.
Release angle: about 85–90°

Biomimetic Inspiration
From maple seed to boomerang

From maple seed to boomerang… this worked even better than I initially expected. It was clear that the shape of the seed contributes to a self-sustaining rotation, just like you could observe as a kid when throwing these seeds into the air. However, the original shape generates so much lift that it tends to pull upward.

I therefore gave the design a more modern and slimmer line, with the goal of reducing the upward pull and keeping the flight path more stable at a consistent height.

In total, six versions were created during this process, of which three made it into a working design: V1, V4, and V6, with V6 available in two different variants. All four have their own unique character.

 

Character

Ahorn 1
This is the original design, taken directly from the natural form that inspired it. It tends to climb upward when thrown with too much spin and force. I haven’t fully explored its limits yet, but if you really overdo it, it could probably flip over.

Ahorn 4
This version was designed with a clearer and more modern line, with the goal of making it faster and reducing the strong upward pull through its new orientation. The result was that this model gained a noticeably larger throwing radius and no longer climbed upward, but instead started to descend after about half of its flight path. Because of this, I recommend throwing this model slightly higher.
 

Ahorn 6 Lite
The final step! After the Ahorn 4, I wanted to correct the downward drop again and adjusted several wing elements so they would create a bit more upward lift. The speed also wasn’t quite where I wanted it yet, so I added additional fins to help the boomerang maintain a more stable rotation due to the shifted center of mass. The result worked perfectly, and the Ahorn now flies in a smooth circle, returning to the thrower at a stable height. The Lite version is ideal for small rooms, with a flight radius of about 2-3 meters.
 

Ahorn 6
Since I liked the Ahorn 6 Lite so much, I didn’t want to leave it without a surface pattern, so I gave it a honeycomb pattern. This not only increased the weight slightly but also improved the stiffness of the wings. As a result, it has a slightly larger throwing radius and an even nicer release feel when throwing.

Additionally, I must warn that a boomerang can be dangerous, so you should ensure nobody is in its path. It's important to remember that a boomerang was originally a hunting weapon. I also recommend printing it in a signal color to make it easier to spot.