Best Paper Airplanes

Combining art and science, folding paper airplanes is engaging and creative learning for all ages.

I remember standing on the steps of my parent’s staircase, wondering if I could fly. Flying is magical! For this reason, my students love making paper airplanes. Dreaming about fairies and unicorns who can fly is lovely. Superheroes who can zoom across the sky and save the city as quick as a flash fantastic. So of course, creating something that can fly is a go-to. Whenever I offer “free draw”, there are always a handful of students who want to do more than put pen or pencil on paper. They want to manipulate and fold the paper, and then they want to make it fly.

There is something about folding paper and making something new that feels very rewarding. Watching the paper take flight and glide through the air is exciting. While this, alone, is not considered high art, it is fun, relaxing, and gives you a chance to decorate your plane or helicopter.

Below, I have gathered my favorite websites that show not only how to fold unique planes, but also the science behind their success. I even found some fine art connections for you. I highly encourage you to decorate your plane once it is complete.

Some airlines even offer contests where you can design your own airplane! Click Here

Check out this link from Fine Art America! You can see that many people have made airplanes the focus of their paintings. Click Here

This guy folds and flies world record paper airplanes

If you loved that, and who wouldn’t, here are some ways to make this guy’s panes

This site looks at the mastering the art of flight

And this news channel covered a story on a local Sacramento, CA artist who sculpts large scale paper airplanes

I highly recommend checking out this simple approach

And finally, this is a Boomerang paper airplane! It flies away and comes back!

Have fun and keep making art!