It’s easiest to make the folds of your airplane from the top of the paper down. For the purpose of following these instructions, a basic sheet of 8. 5”x11” (most comparable to A4 paper outside the US) letter paper will work best. You can use shipping paper. Or reuse old paper boxes for this purpose.
The center crease is made to serve as a reference point for later folds. You can also fold the paper in half width-wise, if you choose. This will help guide the first couple of vertical folds you make.
Leave 2-3 inches (5-7. 5cm) of space between the point of the triangle and bottom of the paper. Folding the paper over on itself adds weight to the plane as it reduces its size, giving it the heft to allow it to fly farther.
This last folded point at the top of the paper will serve as the nose of the plane.
The technique of using a triangular flap to secure a fold is known as the “Nakamura lock,” named after the origami practitioner who invented it.
Folding the paper back on itself wraps the lower triangular piece around the outside of the bottom of the plane, holding it in place and making it easier to grip and throw.
Be careful not to bend the wings while folding them. Go somewhere with plenty of space and give your new airplane a toss. Airplanes made with this design fly far and straight and can reach some pretty impressive speeds. [10] X Research source
Blunt-nosed planes give up a little speed but fly much further due to their streamlined construction. [11] X Research source
It’s normal for the plane to curve a little, so only adjust the wing height if the plane is spiraling out of control when thrown.
Paper airplanes operate on the same physical principles that allow real planes to fly. A slight curve of the wings is necessary to turn air resistance into lift. [13] X Research source Try a blunt-nosed design if your plane has a problem with taking a nosedive. Pointed noses can easily become damaged when they hit the ground.
Attempting to throw too hard can also cause the nose to rise, stalling the plane. Launch the plane with a smooth, straight motion of the arm and wrist to send it on its way steadily.
The types of paper commonly used in offices—crisp, smooth and perfectly weighted—often make for excellent paper planes. It’s okay to use thinner paper for smaller planes, since the compact size will compensate for the weight difference. Likewise, heavier paper can be used to make oversized planes.
If you’re working with scrap paper, cut or tear it until it’s roughly the proportions of letter paper, then reproduce the folds on a slightly larger or smaller scale.
Raw, foil, laminate and glossy papers do not take a fold well. Apply pressure to each crease you make and go over it a couple of times. The neater the fold, the better it will maintain its shape.
