How to Fold a Paper Airplane Fast

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We often think of paper airplanes as sheets of paper students have lazily folded around the classroom. However, the design of paper airplanes has improved over the years, and today just a light breeze can help the paper airplane fly very fast, over a distance equivalent to the distance you throw the plane. plastic flying saucer. All it takes is a few minutes and strong hands. Find a sturdy piece of paper, fold it firmly, accurately, and watch your work fly.

Table of Contents

Fold the paper plane

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Start with a flat sheet of paper. Place the paper on the flat surface in front of you. Choose a sheet of paper that has no creases or wrinkles, as this can reduce the ability of the finished plane to fly. It’s a good idea to use larger paper at first to make it easier to fold before trying other sizes of paper. ^{[1] X Research Source}

It’s easier to create folds from the top down.
For the instructions below, standard lettering paper in size 21×30 cm (equivalent to A4 size paper) is best.

Fold the paper in half lengthwise, then unfold. Turn the paper lengthwise and fold down the center of the paper. Fold so that the top corners coincide with the bottom corners of the paper. Run your thumb over the crease to create a crease, then unfold it so that the paper is slightly spread out into a ‘V.’ ^{[2] X Research Source}

The crease in the middle of the paper serves as a guide for the following folds.
You can also fold the width of the paper if you like. This fold will guide the vertical fold lines.

Fold the top two corners down. Fold both top corners of the paper down to coincide with the crease in the center of the paper. Press down to hold the fold in place. The two folded corners will form a large triangle on top of the paper. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Fold the triangle over the top of the paper down. Fold the triangle formed by the two corners on the paper down. The paper should now be shaped like an envelope, with a square at the bottom and a triangle at the top with a pointed end pointing down. This will be the fuselage. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Leave a gap of 5-7.5 cm between the pointed end of the triangle and the bottom edge of the paper.
Folding the paper down is to reduce the size and thickness of the plane, thereby increasing the weight to help the plane go further.

Fold the top two corners down so that the edges meet in the center of the paper. Carefully fold the top two corners again to coincide with the crease in the center of the paper. Leave a short stretch of the previously folded paper so that a small triangle protrudes below the new fold. This triangle should be about 2.5 cm long. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The sharp point on the top of the paper after the final fold will be the nose of the plane.

Fold up the triangular piece of paper. Fold the triangular piece of paper over the previously folded piece of paper to secure the edges. Remember to fold the piece of paper so that the tip of the little triangle aligns with the fold in the middle. This fold is important, as it helps maintain the plane’s shape and balance in flight. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

The technique of using a triangular piece of paper to hold the folds in place is known as the “Nakamura lock,” named after the designer who invented it in the art of origami.

Fold the paper out to form the fuselage. Now fold the paper in half outward, in the opposite direction of the first fold in the center. The folded triangle at the bottom of the plane will create weight and stability for the aircraft. You will also see the final size and shape of the plane. ^{[7] X Research Sources}^{[8] X Research Sources}

When the paper is folded in reverse, the lower triangle will cover the outside of the aircraft’s belly, keeping the plane from unfurling, and creating an easier place to hold and launch the plane.

Fold the last folds to make the wings. Lay the plane on its side on one side and fold the piece of paper down so that the top corner is level with the belly of the plane. Flip over to the other side and fold in the same way to form two airplane wings. Press down to hold the fold. Now your plane is done! ^{[9] X Research Source}

Be careful not to bend the wings when folding.
Go somewhere wide to launch the plane. This folding plane of this design will fly long, straight, and can reach quite impressive speeds. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Airplane modification

Adjust the nose of the plane. A simple modification of this design is to fold the plane with a flat nose instead of a pointed nose. To fold in this design, you only need to leave about 1.3cm on either side of the middle crease when folding the corners, which will then be held in place by the small triangle. The corners will be folded diagonally to leave the top.

Flat nose planes have slightly less airspeed but much longer range thanks to their aerodynamic construction. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Keep the plane flying straight. When a paper plane swings too much to one side, it is usually caused by a misaligned wing. You need to check the wing fold lines and make sure the two wings are flat, symmetrical and of equal height. You should only make minor adjustments, because folding the wing a lot can soften the paper and reduce lift.

It’s also normal for the plane to turn around a little, so you should only adjust the wings if the plane is spinning and out of control.

Prevent the plane from nose down. If the plane has a tendency to dive, the problem is probably in the tail end of the wing. Curl the tail of the plane’s wings slightly to catch the air as the plane moves forward. Small curves make a big difference, so don’t overdo it or the wing will get deformed. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Paper airplanes operate on the same physical principles as real airplanes. The slight curve on the wing is essential to turning air resistance into lift. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Try folding the plane in a flat nose if your plane is nose-down. The spike will be easily damaged when it hits the ground.

Maintain steady lifting. Another common problem is planes flying around high, then doing somersaults. The solution to this is to do the opposite of the nose-down scenario: you just need to curl the tail of the wing down a bit until the plane goes straight. Try launching a few times to be sure the problem is fixed before launching further. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If you try to launch too hard, the nose of the plane can point up into the sky and cause the plane to not fly. Launch the plane with straight, smooth movements of your arms and wrists for a stable flight.

Choose the right type of paper

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Choose paper of the right weight. In order for the plane to fly high and far, you need to use paper that is neither too light nor too heavy. Usually, A4 standard letter paper (21×30 cm) is the most suitable in terms of size, weight and thickness to fold an airplane that can fly tens of meters. Thinner papers such as newsprint don’t catch the air, while cardstock, construction paper, and other thick papers create too much resistance and are also difficult to fold. However, you do not necessarily have to use paper. Cardboard with the middle layer cut off can also be used to fold the plane if needed. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Office paper – hard – smooth and of the right thickness can often fold into great planes.
You can use thinner paper to fold small planes, as the compact size makes up for the difference in weight. Similarly, thicker paper can be used to fold oversized airplanes.

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Be sure to use standard sized paper. Before you master the technique of folding an airplane, you should avoid using special sized paper. Most paper airplane folding tutorials usually default to A4 size (21×30 cm). Changing the length or width of the paper can cause the plane to change dramatically when finished and may not fly at all if it’s too long or too wide. ^{[16] X Research Source}

If using used paper, cut or tear it to the same ratio as letter paper, then fold it to a larger or smaller ratio.

Use paper that holds the folds. Another advantage of medium-thickness paper such as letterhead and office paper is its good hold. This is especially important if you want the plane to fly fast and far, as sloppy and uneven lines can degrade the aerodynamics of the aircraft. As a rule, the smoother the paper, the easier it is to hold. Avoid porous or rough paper as these will not have sharp edges when folded. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Rough paper, metallic paper, laminate and glossy paper do not hold up well.
Fold each line a few times. The sharper the fold, the easier it is to keep the plane’s shape.

Advice

Always hold the nose of the plane to avoid damaging the wings.
Test launch in a wide open space so that the aircraft does not hit obstacles.
For the best flight path, launch the plane forward and upward at a low angle.
Use new paper to fold the plane, do not reuse paper that has been folded.
If you make a big mistake when folding the paper, do it again with a new sheet of paper.
Try using a ruler to help make the folded edges more precise.
When folding the plane, do not forget to use the correct type of paper and place it on a flat surface, otherwise the plane will not have a good structure to be able to fly fast and far.
Use the right kind of paper – don’t use paper that is too thin like tissue paper. Craft paper (if thin enough) is good for folding airplanes.

Warning

Do not let the plane crash into other objects. Once bent or damaged, the paper airplane may not be able to fly again.
Paper airplanes will fail when wet.
Do not launch aircraft at other people, especially sharp-pointed aircraft.

Things you need

Smooth and hard paper (preferably A4 size paper 21×30 cm)

Steps