how to make the best paper airplane for distance

The Best Paper Airplane

People always ask us, "what is the best paper airplane" well.... it depends on your goal. in this article, we'll explain each goal and show the winning paper airplane design that is our top pick., table of contents.

If you are looking for the greatest paper airplanes, we have you covered. This article will show you how to fold the best paper airplane for every situation. There are different goals that require different designs. For example, if your goal is to fly the longest distance, this requires a different design than if your goal is to do the most acrobatic flips.

We have identified 5 goals and tested every one of our paper airplane designs to determine the winner for each category. Use the table of contents to skip to the category that you are most interested in, or scroll down to begin.

Best Paper Airplane for Distance

If you are looking for the furthest flying paper airplane that can really go the distance, we recommend The Bird . This design is relatively easy to fold, and if it is adjusted carefully it can glide for a very long distance.

To optimize your throw for distance, try tossing this paper airplane at a 45° upward angle. Throw as hard as you can without causing the paper to deform in the wind. If the airplane doesn't go in a straight line, you can make small bends to the backs of the wings. To learn more about making adjustments to your paper planes, please read our article on steering your paper airplanes . If you are outdoors, put the wind at your back to get a little boost.

In our tests, a 10 year old child regularly threw this paper airplane more than 50 feet. If you throw it harder, it could go even further. If we find a better design we'll let you know, but for now this is our pick for the best paper plane for distance.

Lightbulb If you don't mind using a rubber band to add a little extra oomph, then try the Lift Off paper plane. It goes a bit further, but requires a good rubber band and a solid launch.

Best Paper Airplane for Time Aloft

The paper airplane that stays up in the air the longest is the Stealth Glider . This design is fairly easy to fold, but a little tricky to adjust for long flights. Be patient and make tiny wing adjustments to get this design to glide very slowly through the air.

To optimize your throw for time aloft, throw this paper airplane straight up as high as you can. Gravity is your enemy in this contest, so the higher you can throw it, the longer it will stay up. The goal is for it to go straight up and then level off and glide around in circles for as long as possible.

In our tests, a 10 year old child got this design to stay up for over 6 seconds. This may not seem like much, but the average paper airplane flight is less than 2 seconds, so this is more than triple that. This is currently our pick for the best paper plane for time in the air.

Lightbulb If you can find a balcony or other safe place where you can throw the paper airplane from higher up, you will be able to get much more hang time.

Best Paper Airplane for Speed

The fastest paper airplane in our collection is the Sonic Jet . This has some tricky folds, but the sleek design helps this paper plane cut through the air very quickly.

Use some tape to keep the body of this aircraft tightly together and throw it as hard as you can at a slightly upwards angle. In our tests, a 10 year old child was able to throw this airplane at nearly 20 miles per hour! This makes it our fastest paper airplane design for hand throwing.

Lightbulb If using a rubber band launcher is permitted, then check out the Lift Off Paper Plane . It goes slightly faster, but requires a strong rubber band and a good flick.

Best Easy Paper Airplane for Teaching

For teaching young children how to fold their first paper airplane we recommend the Basic Dart . This design only requires 5 folds and it flies well even if those folds are not made accurately.

Young children often lack the dexterity to make perfect symmetrical folds. You can help them practice the first fold by showing them how to line up the corners when folding the paper in half. Kids often use their whole hand to smash the paper when folding. This can cause wrinkles and unwanted creases. Show them how to carefully use their finger to press the paper flat in a smooth line. After a few tries, they will get the hang of it.

To make it easier, download and print our folding templates . These have lines printed on the paper so children can easily fold on the lines. If your child is having difficulty, you might fold and then unfold some of the lines so the paper already has a crease in it and will more easily go where the child wants it to go.

Best Paper Airplane for Acrobatics

Our favorite design for acrobatics is the Light Spinner . What makes this one special is that it flies in a big corkscrew spiral through the air, which is pretty unique. You can adjust the angle of the wings to make the spirals wider or narrower.

If you read our article on steering paper airplanes you can learn how to make adjustments to this or any paper airplane to get it to fly in turns, loops, spins or spirals. However you want!

Looking for a paper airplane that can fly in a big vertical loop? Check out the aptly named Loop Plane . This design was specifically made to fly in a Loop-the-Loop. These are our picks for the best paper planes for acrobatics.

Best Paper Airplane for Decoration

This category is highly subjective since it is judged based on aesthetics. If you are looking for a paper plane that looks like a bird, check out the White Dove , or Eagle Eye . If you want a paper airplane that looks like a real airplane, try the Navy Plane or Fast Glider . If you are looking for a design that just looks cool and unique, take a look at the Fast Swallow or King Bee . You can customize any paper airplane design for your own personal likes and dislikes, so experiment and find what pleases you the most.

As you can see, there is no single design that we can call the "best paper airplane design" or "greatest paper airplane". It really depends on your goals and personal preferences. Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas and taught you a few new paper airplane designs.

Now that you know the best paper airplane design for your specific goal, don't forget to use the optimal size of paper to fold your paper airplane. You may need to experiment to determine if a small or large paper airplane works best.

Once you have some practice with your winning paper airplane, here are some paper airplane games to play and here are instructions for having a paper airplane contest . Challenge your friends and have fun!

Please select your preferred language:

How to Fold a Long Distance Paper Airplane

Introduction: How to Fold a Long Distance Paper Airplane

Here is our long distance paper airplane. It's been in a few books and was featured in WIRED. This model requires precise symmetry in order to glide well and far, however it's a very easy glider to make.

Grab a piece of A4 or Letter paper (copy paper is good), and let's start folding...

Step 1: Fold Nose Section

First, begin with a center crease. Make sure left/right symmetry is exact.

• Now fold the nose section. Make sure the length of the crease is equal on both sides. The photos below the diagrams show the nose section in detail.

Step 2: Fold Wings

For image '4', fold behind lengthwise in half. Make sure the edges align for good symmetry.

• Align the wings near-level as you observe tail section from behind. Slightly curl the trailing edge tail corners if the craft dives but do not add too much or it will stall.

You are now ready for some long distance flying! Hold level and throw with moderate force. This design is ideal for paper plane competitions as many folks have won using this model at their schools/colleges.

Be the First to Share

Did you make this project? Share it with us!

Recommendations

CNC Student Design Challenge

Make Some Noise Contest

Jewelry Contest

How to build best paper airplane design for distance!

This is all about how to fold and make the best paper airplane design , some gentle folds and precision is what you need in the first place. As you are reading this tutorial, you are one of the interested paper plane enthusiast. Statistically the better kind of planes are made of good papers. Paper planes are simple to fold, cheapest, importantly it is a lot of fun intended activity for a family. In fact as a kid I enjoyed making paper planes during 90’s. Considering the number of designs available in the internet it is more than counting factor. Every little kid at the end of every street knows a different one no matter what. But the distance paper airplane was taught by my dad who actually got to know from his dad from early 60’s. Without a further delay let’s make the paper plane model to reach some distance!

Two minutes for Noodles! isn’t it? Three minutes for Paper planes! It’s that simple with liftndrift*

Supplies Required:

• A4 Sheet of Paper or a Foolscap Paper with 70-90 GSM
• Ruler or Flat thick object to flatten the folded edges to make a strong crease.
• The first step is keeping your paper in horizontal — orientation over a table or over a flat surface
• Fold it from left to right and UNFOLD

• Bring the Top Right-hand edge and Top Left-hand edge to the center crease and fold them

• Bring the Nose down to the bottom of the paper and align it with the center line and fold them (Yellow dot to dot)

• Now, pull up folded nose to upside of about 1/4th of the nose

• Now, mountain fold the plane into half as shown in fig.5

• Fold the wings down on both sides with the dotted lines as the center.
• Refer fig.6 & fig.7

• Fold the winglets on both sides of the wing in upside direction
• Check the fig.7 for doubts.

• Your Best paper airplane design for distance is ready for a giant leap!
• Try them in your garden, school ground or in an open field – But I am sure it is gonna make you so excited with its performance!

Best paper airplane design for distance flying technique:

• Hold the Plane behind the center of the plane’s gravity center
• Keep your left foot slightly forward and launch it in 30 – 40 degrees angle, throw it steadily with a medium force. If it fails, tweak the tail wing slightly up and try again.
• Try different angles and forces now! Wow, That’s how one learns properly with more trying and flying. Kudos!
• For More Techniques – Go to Flight Science – Science behind paper airplanes > Flying Techniques. You will find far more than any other tricks available on the internet for How to fly Paper airplanes!

Please leave your Feedbacks / Replies / Queries in the comment section. Good day!

©  LND 2020. All contents on this page are illustrated and instructed by liftndrift.com. Except for the permitted contents by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not use or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this site, without the permission of  [email protected]

Paper Airplanes HQ

Long distance paper airplanes, albatross paper airplane, kingfisher paper airplane, seagull paper airplane, pelican paper airplane, typhoon paper airplane, * also, check out these paper airplanes designed for very long flight times ..

Create your account

Register with your social account

LONG DISTANCE PAPER PLANE - Let's Mame A Paper Airplane That Flies Over 100 Feet | Super Jupiter

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

You disliked this video. Thanks for the feedback!

Description

Post your comment

BEST PAPER AIRPLANE - Let's Make A Paper Plane That Flies Over 100 Feet | Destroyer

100 FEET PAPER AIRPLANE: Let's Make A Paper Plane That Flies | Air Enforcer

OVER 70 FEET PAPER AIRPLANES - How To Make A Paper Plane That Flies | Super Thunder

COOL PAPER AIRPLANE- Let's Make A Plane That Flies Over 100 Feet | Classic Blade

COOL PAPER AIRPLANE - Let's Make A Paper Plane That Flies Fast | Super Earth

Let's Make An EASY Paper Plane That Flies Over 100 Feet | Classic Fighter

EASY PAPER PLANES - How To Make A Plane That Flies Over 70 Feet| Taurus Warrior ( Reinvented )

EASY PAPER AIRPLANES: Let's Make A Paper Plane That Flies | Pink Bird

COOL PAPER AIRPLANES - How To Make A Paper Plane That Flies | F -14 Tomcat

SIMPLE PAPER PLANE - How To Make A Plane That Flies | The Moth

How To Make A Paper Plane That Could Fly Over 200 Feet | World Record Challenger

How To Make A Paper Airplane - Flapping Wings Paper Planes - 紙飛行機 | Flappin' Eagle

BEST PAPER PLANES - Let's Make A Paper Plane For Windy Condition | Blue Jay

How To Create A New Paper Airplane 2.0 ( Refresh ) | Unknown Plane - High-Glider

COOL PAPER PLANE - Avión De Papel Instructions | Super Sonic (Voice Ver. )

How To Make A Paper Airplane - Boomerang Paper Planes - Avión De Papel - 紙飛行機 | Outer Spaceship

How to fold the world record paper airplane

TUTORIAL AVIÓN De PAPEL - How To Create A New Paper Airplane 3.0 ( Final ) | Sparrowhawk

FLYING BACK PAPER PLANE - Let's Make The Psychotic Cyclone

BEST PAPER AEROPLANE - Avión De Papel Instructions | Starship Plane

How This Guy Folds and Flies World Record Paper Airplanes | WIRED

TUTORIAL AVION De PAPEL - How To Make A Cool Paper Plane | Buffalo Warrior

EASY PAPER AIRPLANE FOR KIDS - Dodger (Traditional)

GIANT Paper Airplane off a HUGE Mountain

COOL PAPER AIRPLANES - How To Make The S-Speeder Plane | 2 Variants

How to Make a World-Record-Breaking Paper Airplane

How to Make the World's Best Paper Airplane | WIRED

How to Make the 'Canard' Paper Airplane | WIRED

How to Fold the 'Phoenix' Paper Airplane | WIRED

The Most Detailed Paper Plane in the World

Aerodynamics Explained by a World Record Paper Airplane Designer | Level Up | WIRED

How to Fold the 'Tube' Paper Airplane | WIRED

How to Make a Record-Setting Paper Plane

Paper Plane Folding Machine Gun - 120 Planes Per Minute!

Paper Saw Blades- paper cuts paper- Part 1- centrifugal force // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

The Ultimate Paper Airplane | WIRED

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Underside Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Gliding Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Origami Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Spin Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Stunt Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Square Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The UFO Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Stable Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Tailed Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Basic Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Water Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Buzz Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Sprinter Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Sailor Wing Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Lock-bottom Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Jet Fighter Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Fast Hawk Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Eagle Eye Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The King Bee Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Cross Wing Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Star Wing Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Basic Dart Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Sea Glider Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Royal Wing Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Zip Dart Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The Heavy-nosed Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ Hunting Flight Paper Airplane

Fold 'N Fly ✈ The White Dove Decorative Paper Airplane

How to make a paper plane, with science! | Do Try This At Home | We The Curious

Paper airplane folding machine made from 5 old printers.

Paper saw blades, PART TWO--what can paper cut? // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

Shocker Alum Breaks World Paper Airplane Record

Paper Lion How to Make Paper Lion DIY Paper Animal Crafts Easy Tutorials

How To Make A Paper Airplane

Wake Turbulence From a Paper Airplane

DIY Paper Bunny Paper Rabbit Tutorial Easy Crafts for School Projects

How Far Can a Paper Airplane Fly if You Add a Motor? How Do Planes Really Fly?

COMING BACK PAPER PLANES - Instrucción Avión De Papel | Mini SpaceShip

Paper Things Easy: How to Make Origami Star Step by Step | Easy Paper Crafts

Science Experiments That You Can Do At Home - Raining Blood Science Experiment

How Do Tornadoes Form? - James Spann

The Fastest Animals Are Way Faster Than You Think

What Is An Earthquake? | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Series For Kids

KIDS BUILD Mind Blowing Water Slide

How to Make Liquid Metal Fidget Spinners ~ Advanced How to make a Fidget Spinner DIY Tutorial

What Causes Earthquakes?

What's a Hurricane?

Do Aliens Exist? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Tsunamis: The Biggest Waves

10 Amazing Science Experiments That You Can Do At Home Cool Science Experiments

Matter Compilation: Crash Course Kids

What if a Supervolcano Erupted? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Is Time Travel Possible? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Volcano | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Series For Kids

DO IT YOURSELF (Easiest Way) - How To Make A 3D Hologram Projector

What is the Sun Made Of? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

FLYING FIDGET SPINNER, yes really!

TRUE Limits Of Humanity The Final Border We Will Never Cross

Liquid Sand Hot Tub- Fluidized air bed

DIY Easy Science Experiment | Amazing Science Experiments | Upside Down Water Experiment

What's Matter? - Crash Course Kids #3.1

What If The Sun Exploded? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Black Hole Seen For The First Time. Black hole breakthrough: Event Horizon Telescope's landmark imag

Hurricanes 101 | National Geographic

Are Black Holes Really Black...or Invisible? Real Black Holes on Earth!

Aly Raisman Explains The Science Of Olympic Gymnastics | WIRED

Amazing Science Experiments That You Can Do At Home Cool Science Experiments (Top 10)

How Do We Know When Hurricanes Are Coming?

Static Electricity box - dancing foam balls = Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

What If We Could Teleport?

Volcanoes 101

What Happens if the Earth Stops Spinning? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Do You Know What Color Pluto Really Is?

How Fighting Wildfires Makes Them Worse

How Does A Canyon Become Grand?

The Largest Black Hole in the Universe - Size Comparison

What does a Star Wars battle actually sound like?

Why Are There 5,280 Feet in a Mile? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Can a black hole be destroyed? - Fabio Pacucci

Defining Gravity: Crash Course Kids #4.1

Kinetic Sand + More Hacks with Your Hands | LIFE HACKS FOR KIDS

Stephen Hawking - Formation of the Solar System

What is Dark Matter and Dark Energy?

Fun with fidget spinners and super strong magnets!

Climate Change: Crash Course Kids #41.2

Magnetic Slime - Sick Science! #214

World's LARGEST NERF GUN!!

Formation Of The Solar System | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Series For Kids

Following The Sun: Crash Course Kids #8.2

Do Black Holes Ever Die?

How Long Is A Day On The Sun?

The Future Of The NFL Game Ball

COOL BOOMERANG ORIGAMI - Let's Make The Super Star

Here Comes The Sun: Crash Course Kids #5.1

Part(icles) Of Your World: Crash Course Kids #3.2

Amazing Science Experiments That You Can Do At Home Cool Science Experiments

The WEIGHTLESS Machine

Why Don't We Shoot Nuclear Waste Into Space?

Hydraulic Press vs 1000 Sheets Of Paper

Could Solar Storms Destroy Civilization? Solar Flares & Coronal Mass Ejections

What's inside of the Eiffel Tower?

What Makes Bridges So Strong?

What Happens If You Fall Into A Black Hole? [CRAZY HYPOTHESIS]

1st place Egg Drop project ideas- using SCIENCE

World's STRONGEST Magnet Toy! Feel Flux AntiGravity Science Experiment!

Severe Weather: Crash Course Kids #28.2