How to Make Paper Airplanes That Fly a Long Way

If you want your paper airplanes to fly a long way, you must carefully select your materials and follow the steps of construction. With quality paper and careful folding, you can make paper airplanes that hold the air for long distances.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 piece of sturdy 8 1/2-by-11--inch, 20-pound paper

1. 
    
   20-Pound Bond Paper

   Set out a piece of 8 1/2-by-11-inch, 20-pound bond paper. This is typical typing paper. Make sure that it is pristine with no tears or folds. Do not use paper that is torn out of a spiral notebook or that has holes punched in it. Such uneven nature makes those pieces very bad for paper airplanes.

2. 
    
   Fold in Half Lengthwise

   Fold the paper in half lengthwise. Place two corners on one of the 8 1/2-inch sides together and then hold them as you do the same with the other two corners. Carefully fold down the middle of the paper, making sure that the long edges line up the entire way. The corners should meet perfectly without you touching them.

3. 
    
   Fold To Point

   Open the paper and hold it flat with the crease of the center fold pointing down. Fold one of the corners to the center line of the first fold. This creates a perfect triangle when the edge is lined up with the center fold. Do the same with the other corner on the same 8 1/2-inch side. That side of the paper should now be pointed.

4. 
    
   Blunt the Nose

   Fold the tip of the point back nearly 1 inch from the point, making sure that the fold is perpendicular to the center fold. This is easy to do if you place the tip of the point on the center line. This creates the blunted and weighted nose of the paper airplane. Close the paper along the center fold. Press down on the existing folds so that they are crisp and tight.

5. 
    
   Fold Outward

   Fold one of the paper's edges outward and down. Line the edge of the paper up with the center fold on the outside. Make the fold crisp. It is very important that the edge of the paper follows the center fold all the way down. Turn the paper over and perform the same fold on the other side.

6. 
    
   Make the Wings

   Fold the edge down again. This creates the airplane's wings. Be careful to line up the edge of the wing with the center fold the entire length of the plane. Turn it over and perform the same fold on the other side.

7. 
    
   Raise the Wings

   Open the wings. Pull them up so that they are more than 90 degrees from the vertical part of the airplane body. This is very important. If the wings droop down, the airplane will not fly very far.

8. 
    
   Launch the Plane

   Hold the airplane on the vertical part of the body about one-third of the way back from the nose. Launch it at a 45-degree angle from the horizon. Try floating the airplane instead of throwing it. If you throw it too hard, you may thrust it down into the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Crisp, even folds are essential for creating paper airplanes that fly a long way. If the airplane is asymmetrical in any way, it will wobble in the air. Neatness counts when folding paper airplanes.
• Beware of paper cuts. They hurt.

Resources

• Kent Ninomiya articles

[doctorlucky1]

on 11/28/2009 this paper airplane must be launched from a great height to achieve great distance.

[guesswhat]

on 4/17/2009 I read and rated 5 of your articles...Very Informative ....5***** and Recommended...Please return the favor Thanks Al

[deedavis]

on 4/15/2009 Great instructions. Thanks for the information on how to make paper airplanes.

[greatnews]

on 4/10/2009 Great article on How to Make Paper Airplanes That Fly a Long Way. I haven't done this in a long time. My kids would love it. Thanks! 5 *'s.