When it comes to paper airplanes, most people imagine torn notebooks folded carelessly and then flying slowly around the classroom. However, the basic design of paper airplanes has evolved over the years, and it's now easy to make paper airplanes that can fly at high speeds and reach as far as a toy plastic disc. It only takes a few minutes with a skillful and steady hand. Use sturdy paper, make precise, strong folds, and watch your masterpiece fly through the air.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Folding Paper Airplanes
Step 1. Start with a sheet of paper
Take a piece of paper and place it in front of you on a flat surface. Make sure the paper you are using has no previous creases, creasing, or wrinkles, as these could negatively affect the paper airplane's later flying ability. It is recommended to start with a large sheet of paper to learn how to make folds easier before trying other types of paper.
- The easiest is to fold the paper plane from the top to the bottom.
- Specifically to follow the instructions in this article, the best paper to use is A4 size paper: 21 x 30 cm.
Step 2. Position the paper lengthwise and fold it in half
Smooth out the creases at the top and bottom of the paper. Use your thumbs to smooth and strengthen the folds. Then, unfold the paper and change its position so that the fold is facing down, and the paper is slightly open to form a 'V' shape.
- The center fold line is made to serve as a reference point for subsequent folds.
- You can also fold the paper using only half the width of the paper if you prefer. This can help guide some of the vertical folds you'll be making.
Step 3. Fold the top two corners down
Take both ends of the paper and fold it down until it is parallel to the center crease line. Press the crease to hold it in place. The two folded ends will form a large triangle at the top edge of the paper.
Step 4. Fold the top triangle
Fold the triangle formed from the folded edge of the paper. Now the paper will resemble an envelope, with a square base and a triangle facing down on top. This shape will serve as the fuselage.
- Leave 5 - 7.5 cm of space between the tip of the triangle and the base of the paper.
- Folding the paper over the existing crease will increase the weight of the aircraft while reducing the paper size, making it difficult for it to fly further.
Step 5. Fold the edges so they meet in the middle
Carefully fold the edges of the paper down again until they are parallel to the center crease line. Hold so that the previous folds don't overlap, then leave a small triangle at the end of the fold about 2.5 cm.
The final crease point at the top of the paper will serve as the nose of the plane
Step 6. Fold the small triangle upwards
Fold the remaining small triangle under the crease up, covering the slanted crease of the previous two small triangles so they don't fall off. Make sure the end of the small triangle of the flap is aligned with the end of the fold. This is an important fold so that the plane can maintain its shape and stay balanced during flight.
This technique of locking the folds with a closing triangle is known as the “Nakamura lock,” after an origami practitioner who invented it
Step 7. Fold the paper outward to form the fuselage
Now, fold the paper in half outwards, in the opposite direction to the first fold in the middle. The small flap triangle will be at the bottom of the plane when it is finished and will help to provide weight and stability to the paper airplane.
Folding the plane backwards will position the small triangles on the outer underside of the paper plane, holding it in the desired position and making it easier to hold and fly
Step 8. Make the final folds to form the wings of the plane
Place the paper on one side and fold the paper down until the top edge is parallel to the bottom of the plane. Flip the plane over on the other side and fold that side in the same way. This step will form the wings of the plane. Press the folds firmly to smooth them out. Now your paper airplane is ready!
- Be careful not to fold the wings so that the plane bends.
- Go to a wide area and try to fly the plane. Paper planes made with this design will fly far and straight and can reach quite impressive speeds.
Part 2 of 3: Customizing the Plane
Step 1. Fold the nose of the plane
One simple variation on the plane's design above is to make the nose of the plane blunt instead of pointed. To fold with this variation, just leave about 1 inch (2 cm) of space on each side of the fold after you have folded the edges, which will then be secured with small triangles. Fold the edges of the paper diagonally so that the top of the paper is not blocked.
Aircraft with a blunt nose will reduce speed slightly but will fly farther due to more efficient construction
Step 2. Keep the plane flying straight
If a paper airplane is too curved on one side, it's usually because of its one-sided wings. Double check the wing folds to make sure the wings are flat, parallel and the same height. Make small adjustments, because if you overwork the wings the paper will soften and reduce flight altitude.
It's only natural that the plane is slightly curved. So you only need to adjust the height of the wings if the plane spins uncontrollably when thrown
Step 3. Avoid swooping
If the plane tends to dive straight into the ground, there may be a problem with the rear wing. Bend the back end slightly upwards, being careful to shoot through the air as you fly forward. A small bend will make a big difference. So, do not be too pushy or you make the shape of the wings is no longer perfect.
- Paper airplanes work on the same physical principles as real airplanes. A slight bend in the wing is needed to convert air drag into power to lift the plane.
- Try applying a blunt nose design if your plane has trouble dipping down. The plane's pointed nose can be easily damaged when it hits the ground.
Step 4. Maintain a consistent height
Another common problem is when the plane flies upwards, then falls from a height. The solution is the opposite of the one used to fix a plane swooping down: just bend the back of the wing slightly down until the plane is flying straight. Try flying it a few times to make sure the problem is fixed before you fly it fast.
When you try to fly it too hard the nose of the plane will point up, then the plane will plummet from a height. Launch the plane with smooth, straight hand and wrist movements for stable flight
Part 3 of 3: Choosing the Right Paper
Step 1. Choose a sheet of paper that is the right weight
In order for your paper airplane to fly through the sky, it is important that you use paper that is neither too heavy nor too light. For many conditions, standard A4 sheets of paper are the perfect size, weight, and thickness for making airplanes. If the folding is done correctly, the plane will fly up to several meters. Paper as thin as newsprint will keep the plane from flying through the air, while cardstock, construction paper, and other heavier types of paper will make it difficult to fly, as well as difficult to fold.
- The type of paper that is often used in the office-dry, smooth, and perfectly heavy-can often be used to make great paper airplanes.
- It's okay to use thinner paper to make a smaller plane because the smaller size can compensate for the difference in paper weight. On the other hand, heavier paper can be used for larger aircraft.
Step 2. Make sure that the paper size is standard
Until you master the folding technique, avoid making planes with unusual paper dimensions. Most paper folding instructions for making paper airplanes are given assuming A4 paper size, which is 21 x 30 cm. Changing the length or width of the paper can greatly affect the resulting paper airplane, and if the paper is too wide or too narrow it may not fly at all.
If you are using strips of paper, cut them again or tear them to letter-like proportions, then fold them to a slightly smaller or larger scale
Step 3. Use collapsible paper
Another benefit of using medium-weight paper such as stationery or office paper is that folding the paper can be done safely. This is important if you want your paper airplane to fly farther and faster, because poor, mushy paper will have poor aerodynamics. The rule is, the smoother the paper, the better the folding. Avoid using opaque paper or paper with a large hole in the texture because it can crumple when folded.
- Frosted paper, foil paper, laminating paper, and glossy paper do not fold well.
- Press each fold you make and do it a few times. The neater the folds, the better the shape of the plane can be maintained.
Tips
- You have to pick up the paper airplane by the nose so as not to damage the wings.
- Test the paper airplane in an open area that has plenty of free space so it doesn't hit various obstacles.
- For the best possible flight, launch the paper plane forward and slightly tilted upwards.
- Use a new sheet of paper to make one paper airplane. Do not use folded paper.
- If you make a fatal mistake when folding, just start over with a new sheet of paper.
- Try using a ruler to make the edges of your folds more accurate.
- Launch the plane from the rear.
- When making paper airplanes don't forget to use the right paper and place it on the right surface.
- Use the right type of paper--make sure it's not too fragile like tissue paper. Easy-to-fold (if light enough) card paper is a good choice.
Warning
- Prevent the paper plane from crashing into anything. A bent or damaged paper plane will no longer be able to fly.
- Don't throw paper airplanes at other people, especially if the nose is pointy.
- A wet paper airplane is bound to break.
