How to Make a Dragon Paper Airplane

A high throw is essential for long flight.

The dragon paper airplane is a dart type airplane with a short wingspan. The dragon's short wingspan allows it to withstand great velocities during the launch phase of flight. According to world record paper airplane flyer Ken Blackburn, time aloft for a paper airplane can be maximized in two ways: by making a fragile plane with a long wingspan then launching it gently from as high as possible, or by making a plane with a short wingspan and throwing it as high and hard as possible then letting it glide downward quickly. The dragon paper airplane is designed to be thrown as hard and high as possible to reach the maximum time aloft.

Things You'll Need

• 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of printer paper

Instructions

1. Fold an 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of printer paper in half along the long axis. Crease the fold well and reopen it.

2. Fold the top left corner of the paper down at a 45-degree angle so it meets the center crease line.

3. Fold the top right corner of the paper down at a 45-degree angle so it meets the center crease line.

4. Fold the top left edge down at an angle so it meets the center crease line.

5. Fold the top right edge down at an angle so it meets the center crease line.

6. Fold the top point down to the center base of the paper.

7. Fold the top left edge down at an angle so it meets the center crease line.

8. Fold the top right edge down at an angle so it meets the center crease line.

9. Fold the point of the flap at the base of the paper up to the point at the tip of the paper airplane.

10. Fold the paper airplane in half at the center crease line.

11. Fold the wings down parallel to the lines created by the pointed tip inside the paper airplane. Ensure that the tips of the wings are the highest part of the wing for the best flight results.

References

• Ken Blackburn's Paper Airplanes: Airplane Aerodynamics
• Paper Airplanes: The Dragon Paper Airplane