Paper airplanes bring to mind school days, and little boys competing to see whose can fly the farthest and the longest. Often the styles and secrets of creating a good flyer are kept hidden from each other. Some focus on the coolness factor of their paper airplanes, while others tend to the practical side and focus on the flying.

The current world record holder for the longest flying paper airplane is Ken Blackburn. He was able to make his airplane fly for 27.6 seconds. He has beaten the world record many times, but set his current record in 1998. You can learn more about his designs and his journey at his website.

To make a paper airplane, you need to begin by choosing the right type of paper. The paper you choose should be fairly stiff without being too heavy. A glossy paper usually ends up being a good choice. However, any paper you choose will make a paper airplane. The heavier paper tends to fly a bit farther.

· To make a basic airplane, you need to first fold the paper in half lengthwise. Be sure to match the corners, and to crease the fold securely.

· Next, you need fold the top corners to the middle line of the paper. The corners will come down on opposites of the airplane. They should be about one quarter of the way down the paper.

· Then, you need to fold each side of the paper down to the current fold line or the bottom of airplane. This will create the wings, so it is important to crease the folds well.

· Finally, open up the wings and try flying your paper airplane. You can have races, or see how far or long it will fly. Try experimenting with different styles, and adding weights to see how it affects the flight.

If you are interest in making more complex designs or creating the world’s best flying paper airplane there are many designs to choose from. Once you have learned to create these designs, you can then create your own design.

Paper Airplane Designs

· Paper Airplanes: Offers designs for beginners, intermediates and experts

· Best Paper Airplanes: Offers ten different airplane designs with excellent folding illustration guides

· 10 Paper Airplanes: Offers an animated folding guide for ten different designs

· Zurqui/com: Offers instructions and pictures on building the best flying paper airplane

· Fun Paper Airplanes: Offers downloadable templates for paper airplane designs

If you are trying to set up a school event, a scouting event, or a contest for summer camp, there are great resources available to you. Paper airplane contests can also be fun for an engineering convention or as part of a family reunion.

Paper Airplane Contests, Clubs and Groups

· Scholastic.com: Offers instruction on setting up a paper airplane contest at school

· Origami USA: Reports on their last paper airplane contest


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