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Paper Airplane Designs and Patterns

khael by khael

Make a Paper Airplane

Airplanes are a manifestation of the desire to fly. Paper airplanes are a cheaper manifestation of the desire to fly. I was looking for a particular Paper airplane design from my childhood. I seem to have forgotten how to fold the thing. So I decided to go and see if something similar was available online. Needless to say the amount of information available was astounding.

There were numerous designs based on the traditional dart and glider paper airplanes. Then there were some very exotic things that I thought couldn't possibly fly. But they do. Probably my favorite of the sites are those offering printable patterns. Not only do you have a guide for folding paper airplanes, but the folded product reveals some artwork on the model.

photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paperairplane.png

Papercraft Aerodynamics

Folding Paper planes has got to be one of the first craft activities a child does. It's fairly simple. The materials are readily available. You can share the activity with your friends. Even if you don't have one of your own, its fun to watch a paper airplane fly.

It's funny how we forget about these things when we get older. Then when we get even older we try to remember!

Paper Plane Books

Step-by-step instructions. Paper airplane folding illustrations. Books the whole family can share.

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Build your own Paper Planes

video tutorials

Here are some video instructions for making paper airplanes.

How to build the best paper airplane in the world
by jogofilo | video info

11,341 ratings | 6,200,247 views
automatically generated by YouTube

List of Folding Instructions

I never realized there were so many sites offering information on paper airplanes. They sure come in handy when entertaining kids.
Paper Airplane
Has a nice collection of patterns and some videos.
Build the Best Paper airplane in the World
One Design, Several Links
10 Paper Airplanes
10 Patterns and a picture gallery
Ken Blackburn's Paper Airplanes
Ken holds the record for longest time a paper plane remained aloft.
bestpaperairplanes
Simple easy to follow folding paper plane desings
Joseph Palmer
Has a few planes and instructions. The illustrations are done like blueprints. It's a nice touch.
Paper airplane Design
Has some folding and laminated models. Most of the laminated ones are patterned after WW2 planes.
The Omniwing
This is a long distance design for a paper glider.
Kid's Turn
Links to paper airplane sites.
Paper Airplane HQ
The designs are unusual. I'm tempted to print out some sci-fi patterns on these.
Origami Kids
Folding planes which look like modern jets. Also has instructions for paper boats.
Aviation Explorer
Website about aviation. The paper plane section includes instructions as well as information.
Fighter Jet Paper Airplane Instructions
Complicated and looks more like a starship than a fighter. This is a challenge for enthusiasts
MyWeb 3000
Cut and paste paper airplanes. The designs are very striking. There's even one that looks like a Christmas Tree. Should make a good party toy for Christmas
Model Aviation
Site with some designs and a lot of Aviation information. includes info on Model Aircrafts kits and the Aircraft Modelling Hobby.
Humanized
A post about iterative design demonstrated through the use of paper airplanes. The video instructions are nice and clear.
WannaLearn.com: Just for Fun : Making Paper Airplanes
High-quality instructional guides, tutorials, lessons and more on making paper airplanes!

Sites with Printed Patterns

Amazing Paper Airplanes
Instructions for paper planes, info for real ones, some galleries and a paper and straw model of an Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). Neat? ohyeah.
Airplane Collectible Net Resource
Airplane Designs, patterns, paper airplane assembly instructions, links, and even some quizzes
Free Paper Airplanes-Plane Downloads
Free Paper airplane templates to download print and fly.

Paper Plane Buzz

Community Foundation reaches $50 million donation mark
By Joe Rubino Camera Staff Writer Devon Mphahlele, 11, left, Jesse Jones, 8, George Sanchez, 9, and Youth Program Director Eric Schmidt throw their paper airplanes while having a paper airplane flying contest after a science program on Friday, June 1, ...
Paper Plane Champ Watches His Record Fly, Fly Away
The world of competitive paper plane throwing got a jolt when a San Francisco plane designer decided to pair up with a former college football player to throw his plane for him. WSJ's John Letzing reports. Mr. Kreiger had held since 2003 the Guinness ...
Paper airplane throwing world-record holder from Bellevue unseated in ...
One of the men currently listed in The Guinness Book of World Records for longest paper airplane flight didn't actually throw the plane, and that doesn't sit well with the former world-recorder holder in the category who is from Bellevue.
Vkontakte Founder Throws Paper Planes With Money Out Window
A co-founder of the popular social networking site Vkontakte celebrated St. Petersburg's 309th anniversary over the weekend by tossing paper airplanes carrying 5000-ruble notes out a window, but he had to stop when violence erupted in the eager crowd ...
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Plane Pictures

Aim high by sapheron
by Prince Lang
Paper Airplane Embroidery Hoop Art by Spec-ta-cles
Paper Airplane Embroidery Hoop Art by Spec-ta-cles
Paper Airplane Embroidery Hoop Art by Spec-ta-cles
In Flight by Spec-ta-cles
by Spec-ta-cles
Colour Plane by earthisthering
preparing for test flight by [jf]
George is a Baller. by JosephLeonardo
automatically generated by Flickr

Make a Printable Design

for diy paper plane patterns

You can make your own unique paper airplane. If you want to start placing your own designs on a printable paper plane pattern here's one way to do the layout.



    1. Fold the plane as normal
    2. sketch your design on the plane
    3. Unfold
    4. Trace the design on another sheet
    5. clean up design
    6. render and scan. Scan when using traditional media. I would use a Graphics program to make adjustments easier.

now you have a digital pattern on the computer - just print and fold.

Some Paper Airplane Humor

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Briefing Room

  • Papier Dec 9, 2011 @ 2:14 am | delete
    It's nice to have so many folding patterns to choose from. Especially like the design idea.
  • KANEsUgAr Jun 30, 2011 @ 1:05 pm | delete
    Very cool airplane designs.
  • giftskingdom Jun 18, 2011 @ 10:11 pm | delete
    a very cool lens, well done :)
  • khael Jun 21, 2011 @ 7:27 am | delete
    Thanks for your kind words. If you have any suggestions for making this Paper Airplane lens cooler I'd be glad to know. :)
  • AirT-23 Jun 15, 2011 @ 7:45 am | delete
    Cool..never thought of how many ways to make a paper planes! Great lens!
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The Online Paper Airplane Museum

This site has an extensive collection of paper airplanes. It claims to have over 800 free designs with a mix of folding and laminate (cut out and glue) designs. some of them are simple instructions while others offer printable patterns with designs on them. Aside from this massive collection it also houses several links to other paper airplane sites as well as book reviews.

Visit the The Online Paper Plane Museum
update 10 1 11

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khael

Has a penchant for all sorts of games but prefers tabletop roleplaying games. Tends to listen to unusual music. Currently looking for recipes from oth... more »

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