Make a Paper Airplane!

How to Make a Paper Airplane on blue background with green paper airplane below and "cultivate curiosity" with white and grey clouds at bottom and ce.seattlecentral.edu lower right.

When's the last time you made a paper airplane? If you can't remember (or have never made one), it might be time! Play is not just for kids. 

With one sheet of paper and a couple of minutes, you can create a piece of aerodynamic architecture that will fly through space a few feet or several yards. The longest recorded flight is over 100 yards (December 2025). Amazing! 

With a few sheets of paper, you can challenge friends, family, or colleagues to see whose plane has the longest flight. You can tinker with your design and try other models for hours of fascination. And if your plane is not up to par, recycle it and try again.

Learning & Play for Health

Scientists have determined that it's important to challenge yourself mentally as you age to keep your brain physically healthy (references listed under Resources below). Active learning and trying new things helps your brain stay flexible. This is called neuroplasticity, when your brain is physically activated at the neuron level, creating new neural pathways. Exercising your brain helps with thinking, learning, memory, and recovery from injury. 

Scientists are also learning that play helps reduce anxiety and supports the nervous system. 

And so we invite you to make a paper airplane, have fun, and feel good knowing you're healthier as a result! You can also take a class, of course, to enjoy the myriad benefits of learning something new.

Feel free to document your airplane trials and send us a short video! Email: conted.central@seattlecolleges.edu! With your permission, we might share it on social media to inspire others. 

Have FUN!!

Instructions for a Classic Dart Make a Basic Paper Airplane, a visual guide to the classic dart. Seven steps with diagrams showing where to fold the paper that match the instructions numbered in the article above.

This is the quintessential paper airplane that can be made in a jiffy. See the diagram for a visual aid with corresponding numbers, and scroll down for links to other models.

1) Fold and crease your paper in half vertically and then unfold it so it's flat.

2) Fold each of the top corners down to meet the center line, making a solid crease along the edges and forming a point at the top.

3) & 4) Fold top edges down to the center line to make the nose sharper and the body thinner.

5) & 6) Fold the body in half along the center line, making sure the wings are even.

7) & 8) Fold the wings downward so the edges align with the bottom of the body.

9) Fold the wings up to be parallel to the ground. Voila! 

Tips 

  • Symmetry. Hold the body of the plane while adjusting the wings to be parallel to the ground before launch for a straight, horizontal flight.
  • Bend the rear corners of the wings upwards slightly to help the plane stay level.
  • Weight. If the plane dives or stalls, add one (maybe two?) paperclips to the nose.
  • Gentle launch. Try a gentle toss, rather than throwing it hard upwards or downwards.
  • Avoid drafts and obstacles. Try your plane indoors with plenty of space, if possible, to avoid drafts.
  • Observe  your plane in flight and tinker with it to get a better result.

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Resources on Paper Airplanes

There are many other models to try that will give you a wide array of results. Here are some options:

More Resources on Play & Neuroplasticity

 

By Liza Burke, Marketing Manager, Spring 2026