How to Make Paper Airplanes

They're the quintessential teacher annoyance, but paper airplanes are more than just a classroom past time. Some planes have won their creators the honor of being in the Guinness Book of World Records! Making paper airplanes can take you back to your childhood years in a second, and it won't take long to get there with this simple design.

Instructions

Make a Paper Airplane

1. Using an 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper, fold one 11-inch edge to meet the other long edge. Make a crease and unfold the paper.

2. Fold the right top corner inward toward the crease, making a small triangle at the top of the plane. Crease. Do the same with the left top corner.

3. Fold the paper along the sides of your "house-shaped" project in an inch and make a crease. Unfold them so they stand up. Add a little sass to your paper airplane by coloring it with markers, making a design on it or writing a note to a friend on the flaps.

4. Gently toss your airplane into the air by folding it in half, pulling your arm back and throwing it. As you get better at building and throwing the plane, consider holding contests with your friends to see how fast, slow or far you can make your plane glide.

5. Try making a more difficult paper airplane using the designs from the Best Paper Airplanes Web site.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep all of your folds even. Paper airplanes fly best when they're symmetrical.

• Use lighter paper that doesn't have a noticeably rough texture. Smoother paper makes more aerodynamic planes.

• Make thinner, longer planes if you want them to fly quickly, or fold fatter, wider planes to have them fly more slowly.

• Avoid adding decorations to your airplanes. Paper airplanes can look stunning when decorated with markers or colored pencils, but will be weighted down by glue or tape.

• Throw your paper airplane inside if you want it to last. Outdoor winds can take a plane much further or higher than you want it, and your hard work could be ruined by a pool or pond. If you want to fly your plane outside, consider buying paper with a light wax coating, such as origami paper, which can withstand water.