Want to learn how to make paper airplanes, but don’t want to have to throw them? You may put your mind (and arm) at ease my friend, for some University or other has put together an “electric plane launcher”.

Just when you thought your shoulder was going to waste away, a Savior has come!

Heh heh, I doubt this little machine is as great as the versatile, amazing, human arm. It’s amazing how well you can get a paper airplane to fly if it’s properly adjusted, and properly thrown. I like to try a gentle throw first, then I graduate to hard ones, medium ones, all the while making little adjustments to the wings. After a few trial and error flights, I hit the “sweet spot”, and my paper airplane will do wonders!

Yes, you can buy the fancy electronic launcher doohickey. But as for me, I’ll stick to learning how to make paper airplanes (and throwing them) the old fashioned way – with my own arm.

Besides, that paper airplane “thrower” look soooo cheesy…….

Hello folks! Yes, I’m still learning how to make paper airplanes – and what I find surprises me.

First of all, there’s only a relative few basic paper airplane designs – a few gliders, some darts, etc. Pretty much all the hundreds of plane designs out there resemble these basic few in some way or another.

And secondly, I’m finding that it is not how well you fold the paper airplane that determines its gliding (or darting) worth. It’s how well you can adjust it, and fine tune it. That’s the secret of good paper airplanes!

With that, I introduce the LIGHTNING. I have no idea why it’s called that, for it is a slow glider through and through…. but oh well.

This guy is best thrown at very low speed. I found that with a wee bit of adjusting, I could get the LIGHTNING to fly a long time.

“October 8th, 1998 will be a date I long remember.  On my 10th and last official throw I could tell it would be a long flight. A long silent moment after the plane landed the official time was announced – 27.6 seconds!  Few will ever realize the emotions I felt and the reasons why.”

Ever since he was ten years old, Ken Blackburn loved learning how to make paper airplanes.  It went from interest, to hobby, all the way to passion as he perfected his favorite designs throughout his teen years. As a college student in ‘83, he broke the paper airplane world record for the first time.  Time aloft: 16.89 seconds.

Blackburn, a pleasant man with unique talent, went into the field of aerodynamic engineering.  Continuing to learn how to make paper airplanes better and better, he broke his own world record several times in the 80s and early 90s.

Finally, in 1998, after months of designing and physical training (I kid you not), Blackburn set the record that no one has touched so far: 27.6 seconds.

How to Make Paper airplanes fly WELL

So, you ask – What’s this guy’s secret? 

That’s what I wanted to know.  I mean, I’m lucky if I get my plane to fly for over 5 seconds!

The trick to long lasting flight, according to Blackburn, is to throw the paper airplane near vertically as fast as you can.  Just to give you an idea of “how fast”, Blackburn throws his at 60 mph. 

Whew!

Then, the paper airplane has to glide down easy, and not dive as some have the tendency to do.  In order to perform all this, you need to learn how to make paper airplanes that have a somewhat weighted nose, but that also glide very slowly.

Lastly, it takes adjustments, and perseverance.  Throw, make adjustment.  Throw again, make another adjustment, etc.  Blackburn made hundreds of practice throws before he went for the world record.  By then, his planes were fine-tuned to perfection.

To more information on Ken Blackburn, and the world record paper airplane flight, visit his site at http://paperplane.org. 

As for me, I’ve been inspired to go outside and throw some more airplanes – I’ll let you know how long I can get them to stay in the air!  My 2 favorite patterns (for the time being) are the EAGLE and the COBRA – but I’m always on the look-out for cool paper airplanes….

So stay tuned!

I tell you, learning how to make paper airplanes is grand fun! My little brother and I are quickly going through the printer stock – and there are several paper airplanes behind dressers, under sofas, and lying around in other areas!

This latest one I learned how to fold is known as the COBRA. It flies like you wouldn’t believe – if you fold it correctly. This design is a bit more complicated and less forgiving then the EAGLE, so make sure you make sharp folds, and follow the directions exactly.

Tomorrow I’m taking this puppy outside – there’s not enough room in my house!

It’s funny how in an age where communications and media are expanding into wonderful new territory, some subjects are just plain stuck in the 20th (or even the 19th) century.

For folks who want to learn how to make paper airplanes, like you and me, this is not a good thing!

Not a year goes by without some new book being published on “the best paper airplanes”, or “super-duper origami aircraft”. Just check Amazon, or your local Barnes and Nobles. They seem to pop up all over, and every one of them promises the best plane designs, and easiest instructions.

Well, I’ve tried a few of these “easy” instructions in my days, with varying levels of success. Most of the time, though, I slowly work my way to the last 5 folds, and then get stuck. It’s like navigating a treacherous swamp, and then getting bogged down only ten feet from solid ground. By the time I finally give up I have several beat-up pieces of paper and a wasted half-hour or more to show for it. Talk about frustrating!

I finally decided that paper airplane books just don’t cut it for me.

And I suspect that they don’t work for most of the population either. Can you guess why?

Books are 2D. Paper airplanes are 3D

That’s all it is, folks. It’s not about the planes, it’s not about the books. It’s about the dimensions.

Our brains find find it hard to extrapolate 2D images into 3D models. I mean, when was the last time you built a bicycle, swing set, model boat, or some other instructional nightmare? Can you imagine how hard it would be if only 2D images were allowed? That would be nigh impossible!

So then, what’s the solution?

Learn how to make Paper Airplanes the right way. The fun way. The easy way. The 3D way. The video way.

The best way to learn something new is to watch it being done. That’s what this site is for – to provide you with best paper airplane tutorials on video available. And as I learn along with you, I might make a few videos of my own!

What do you do with all your old instructional books? I’d keep them – the pages make good paper airplanes.

Oh yeah, the EAGLE has landed! I’m impressed by it’s simplicity.

I took this baby out for a spin today, and the eagle is definitely a keeper! It flies straight, even, and stays in air for a long time. Best thrown light and straight, with a wee bit of an upwards angle.

Feel free to pause the youtube video or review it as you follow along. Enjoy!

So do I.

When I was a kid, I always wondered about the miracle of flight, and would try to figure out how to make paper airplanes. I was never much good at them, but enjoyed folding and flying paper airplanes so much, that I actually wanted to become an engineer, and design fighter jets for the government.

Years later, I am not an engineer. But I still have a love for aerodynamics, and the desire to throw paper around!

Join me as I take a turn into a simple childhood pleasure, an activity that truly transcends all age boundaries. Let’s learn how to make paper airplanes!