Flying Paper Plane

How To Make A Paper Plane

Rulers, crayons, notebook, printer paper, colored pencils, or colored pens

1. Find a piece of paper shaped like a rectangle. A sheet of computer printing paper or school notebook paper is a good size and weight.

2. Lay the paper on a table with one of the long edges closest to you.

3. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. When the two edges match up, use your thumbs to make a sharp crease along the fold.

4. Take the upper left corner of the top layer of paper and fold it diagonally down toward the first crease you made. When the edges match up, use your thumbs to make a sharp crease along the new fold, which should create a small triangular flap.

5. Turn the paper over.

6. Take the upper right corner of the top layer of paper and fold it diagonally toward you, until the edge lines up with the first crease you made. When the edges match, make a sharp crease along the new fold. (This is a mirror of what you did in step 4.)

7. Take the newly formed diagonal edge on the right side of the paper, and fold it straight down toward the first crease you made. When the edges match, make another sharp crease.

8. Turn the paper over, and again fold the diagonal edge down toward the first crease you made; make another sharp crease. The paper should now look like a triangle with a 90-degree angle.

9. Form the wings by flipping the airplane over and repeating steps 7 and 8.

10. Hold the paper in one hand along the first crease you made. Let the wings of the plane flare out.

11. At a point 4 or 5 inches from the nose of the plane, make a 1/2-inch rip in the bottom part of the plane; make another rip 1/2 inch behind it. Fold this tab up.

12. Hold the airplane near the tab and toss the plane with an overhand, horizontal forward motion.

Tips & Warnings:

Tips: Experiment with the size and weight of the paper.

Tips: Experiment with the location of the tab.

Tips: Make sharp creases to ensure a good flight.

A personal experiment that I made: Use a small paper clip to keep the middle of the plane from returning to its normal flat position.

I hoped that this helped you and have fun flying your planes.

Learning how to make paper airplanes is not such a difficult task. It is a hobby that has been loved by generations of kids for centuries. If you want to create a paper airplane that soars high and far, take a moment to check out the following tips and guidance.

First of all you will need to understand there is a big difference between folding a piece of paper a few times to make a plane, and making the effort to create a craft that flies to the heavens. It is important that you use the right kind of paper, this needs to be strong and sturdy as opposed to flimsy and easy to crumple.

To get the aerodynamics right, you will need to work on a hard dry surface, for example a kitchen or dining room table. The folds need to be both precise and sharp without causing damage to the rest of the paper. Be aware that if there is any kink in a fold, the plane is not going to fly straight or far.

If you are determined to create a paper plane that flies higher and further than that of your friends, it can be useful to make pencil lines on the paper prior to folding. It is surprising the difference having geometrically precise folds can make on the plane's aerodynamics.