How to: Construction Paper Airplanes

Construction paper is sturdier than regular white writing paper.

Making paper airplanes is not only an enjoyable project, but it can also teach children about concepts such as aerodynamics. One problem with many paper airplanes is that they tend to be flimsy. A few crashes, and the plane can crumple into an unusable mess. Combat this problem by using construction paper to make the airplane. This type of paper is sturdier than regular writing paper and can provide hours of fun.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper

Instructions

1. Position the paper horizontally so that the long ends are on top and bottom and the short ends are on the sides.

2. Fold the paper in half vertically to make a crease, and then unfold the paper.

3. Fold down the top right and left corners of the paper so that they touch the center crease.

4. Fold the top triangular section, which is the nose, downward until it touches the bottoms of the two corners that you folded inward during the previous step.

5. Fold the outside edge of each wing inward about one inch. These wings will be the upper right and left sides. The middle of the plane where the nose is should remain flat rather than pointed.

6. Fold the plane in half vertically so that the wings align.

7. Fold each wing downward, leaving about one inch of paper in the middle as the bottom section of the plane's body. This is the section that you will grasp when you fly the plane.

References

• Fun Paper Airplanes: Condor
• Joseph Palmer: Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes