How to Make a Paper Airplane That's Great

Nearly everyone can make a paper airplane, but few know how to make a great paper airplane. Utilize the laws of physics to turn an ordinary paper airplane into a high-speed projectile.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 sheet of standard-size computer paper
• Hard edge such as a ruler or pen/pencil (optional)

1. 

   The first 8 steps follow the same method you probably already know, so feel free to skip them if they are old news. Fold the piece of paper in half lengthwise, and crease the edge with a hard edge such as a ruler or pen/pencil. If you don't have one, use your finger or fingernail.

2. 

   Unfold the paper. Fold the top-right corner toward the center crease. The fold shouldn't go beyond the crease. Crease the fold.

3. 

   Fold the top-left corner toward the center crease so that the fold doesn't go beyond the crease. Crease the fold.

4. 

   Again, fold the top-right corner toward the center crease. The fold shouldn't go beyond the crease. Crease the fold.

5. 

   Fold the top-left corner toward the center crease. Crease the fold.

6. 

   Fold the paper in half.

7. 

   Fold the bottom-left corner toward the old center of the paper. The diagonal edge shouldn't pass the center crease, and should line up with it. Crease the fold.

8. 

   Flip the airplane over by rotating it to the right. Fold the bottom-right corner toward the old center of the paper. The diagonal edge shouldn't pass the center crease, and should line up with it. Crease the fold.

9. 

   Fold the diagonal edge on the left, over to the right. It should line up with the right edge. Crease the fold.

10. 

    Flip the airplane over by rotating it to the right. Fold the diagonal edge on the right, over to the left. It should line up with that left edge. Crease the fold.

11. The airplane is complete. Grasp it by the edge on the left side. Bend the wings up some and back down a little so you can easily grasp the plane.

Tips & Warnings

• The large fin on the top makes the plane more like an arrow. This increases both speed and accuracy.
• For books on how to make better-than-great paper airplanes, check the resources below.
• The higher speed and accuracy makes this kind of plane more dangerous (could damage an eye) for several reasons: 1) It's smaller, so it's harder to see coming. 2) It moves at a higher speed than people are used to, so they might not dodge it fast enough. 3) It's more accurate than the person who's throwing it might expect, resulting in hitting someone where they were aiming, but didn't actually expect to hit.

Resources

• Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes
• The World Record Paper Airplane Book
• The Gliding Flight: 20 Excellent Fold and fly Paper Airplanes
• Interlocking and 3D Paper Airplanes
• Pocket Flyers Paper Airplane Book

[Abdulrahman2000]

on 11/2/2008 :) I used to make all my notebooks Paper Airplanes when I was at school.