How to Make Paper Airplaines

There are dozens of ways to make a paper airplane, and dozens of types of paper airplanes. Whether you want a glider or a fast flier, something you throw gently or as hard as you can, there is a model out there for you. Here are the instructions for three deceptively similar planes--a classic dart shaped plane, a plane that has slightly wider wings and allows for better gliding, and a plane that has a couple of extra folds at the front and can be thrown really hard while still remaining accurate.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 sheets of 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch paper

Dart Plane

1. Fold the first sheet of paper in half lengthwise and then unfold it again, creating a crease. Position the paper so that the sharp side of this crease is facing down.

2. Fold the corners of one end of the sheet inward to meet the crease in the middle. This is the front of the plane.

3. Fold the front edges back to meet the crease two more times on each side.

4. Fold the plane in half along the original crease and pull the wings out. This plane flies best if you hold the innermost fold (the first one you made) and let the others fall freely. It can be thrown either gently or harshly, but tends to sink faster than a gliding plane, due to the aerodynamic nose.

Wide-wing Plane

5. Fold the next sheet of paper lengthwise along the middle and unfold to create a crease.

6. Fold down 1/2" on one of the short sides of the paper, then continue to fold this piece over itself until about one-third of the paper has been folded. Re-make the crease in the middle of the paper when you are done. This heavy fold of paper will be the front of the plane.

7. Fold the corners on the front of the plane inward to meet the middle crease. Make the folds as sharp as possible and leave enough space in between the inner edges so that you can still fold the plane in half.

8. Fold the plane in half. The heavy edge of paper is now in the middle of the plane as well as the nose. Fold down each wing starting at that hard edge and going back at a slight angle upward. The wings will be narrower at the back than the middle. This plane is more of a glider but tends to twist and sometimes flip over in midair depending on how even the balance of that heavy edge is.

Power Plane

9. Fold the last sheet of paper in half lengthwise, creating a crease as you unfold it again.

10. Fold down the corners on one end so that they meet the crease in the middle. Then fold these edges in again. This will be the front of the plane.

11. Fold down the pointed tip of the plane so that it meets the back edge of the plane, centered on the crease.

12. Fold down the front edges to meet the middle crease again. Fold up the point that is now facing the back of the plane so that it meets at the front tip again.

13. Fold the front edges back to meet the crease one last time. Fold the plane in the opposite direction along the middle crease. This plane is shaped very much like a hand glider and flies the same way. Although it is similar in weight distribution to the wide-winged plane, it can be thrown much harder and more accurately.

Tips & Warnings

• To find more paper airplane models, go to your local library and find books on the subject. Most books will have visual aids to go along with the instructions and have at least 10 to 20 different models to experiment with. You can also try creating your own designs, just keep in mind that an airplane flies best when it is symmetrical.

References

• Instructions for building dart plane
• Video and instructions for building a rapier plane
• Video and instructions for building a dragon plane