Harry Emulates the Wright Brothers

I’m not ashamed to admit it. My wings aren’t made for any sort of long-distance travel. They get me from perch to perch just fine. But I have always wondered what it would be like to fly long distances, like Miley the monarch butterfly. She can travel thousands of miles with her wings.

Lucky for me, Miley and my friends decided to help me achieve my dream of long-distance flight right here in the Insectarium! Everybody pitched in to help. Miley and I worked together to fold a most excellent paper plane. Esteban the tarantula even spun a sweet silk cockpit for me to sit in.

My other friends helped carry the plane to the top of the hut in the Butterfly Garden. (Actually, Atlas the leafcutter ant did most of the heavy lifting—he can carry ten times his own weight!)

I climbed aboard, checked my instruments and signaled that I was ready for launch. They pushed the plane over the edge… and then I was flying. The plane took me higher and farther than I’ve ever flown before. It was amazing!

Honestly, it was the most exciting thing I’ve done since I’ve been in New Orleans. And I didn’t even have to leave the Insectarium to do it. If you ever have the opportunity to fly in a paper plane, I recommend it wholeheartedly.