How do paper airplanes fly?

"Thrust" and "lift" are two other forces that help your plane make a long flight. Thrust is the forward movement of the plane. The initial thrust comes from the muscles of the "pilot" as the paper airplane is launched. After this, paper airplanes are really gliders, converting altitude to forward motion. read more

A great book for anyone wanting to learn more about paper airplanes (also a GREAT gift for any child you want to inspire), The Great International Paper Airplane Book is full of information on the rich history of paper airplanes and many, many world-class designs you can make. read more

How easily an airplane moves through the air, or its aerodynamics, is the first consideration in making an airplane fly for a long distance. Drag and Gravity Planes that push a lot of air, like your hand did when it was facing the side, are said to have a lot of "drag," or resistance, to moving through the air. read more

What Makes A Paper Airplane Fly. There is some degree of similarity between paper airplanes and real planes, but a significant difference is the way real planes are designed to actually manipulate wind to produce lift, countering some of the negative effects their weight has on flight. read more