We have 3 different paper airplane designs for you to make, each of them simple and perfect for all ages. Fold a classic dart nosed airplane, an acrobatic plane that spins and flips in the air, or a flat nosed airplane that flies fast and far!
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What kind of paper is best for making a paper airplane?
We used coloured 8.5 x 11 inch, letter sized, printer paper (20 lb weight) to make these paper airplanes and it worked really well! We also made some planes with heavier 24 lb paper. The planes made with this paper also fly great – they’re just a bit harder to fold because the paper is thicker.
What factors affect the speed of the paper airplanes?
The design of the paper airplane is a big part of how far and how fast it will fly. The glue tape we’ve added to the inside body of the planes will stop it from unfolding midflight, which helps it maintain its speed and altitude. If your plane has its center of balance too far forward it will dive, and if it’s too far backward it will stall in the air. You can add a paper clip onto your paper airplane to adjust the center of mass. Try throwing the paper airplane outside, with the wind at your back, for some extra speed and distance. Some acrobatic planes will do better thrown into the wind or straight in the air. Experiment to see what works best with your plane!
It’s so fun to learn how to make a paper airplane! Both kids and adults will have a blast with this simple origami activity. All you need is a regular piece of paper and you can make a paper airplane within minutes!
Here’s even more paper craft ideas:
How to Make a Paper Jet
Paper Airplane Template
Paper Airplane Launcher
How to Make a Paper Ninja Star
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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