Paper Plane Academy
Ten paper planes, from the classic dart to Suzanne, the plane that held the world distance record for ten years. Fold each one along with us on the page, a crease at a time, then throw it right here.
Which plane is best?Fix your paper planeWhy paper planes flyRecordsScience project
Floaty
Drifts down in wide, lazy loops.
Fast
Slim and quick, dead straight.
Tricky
Tight loops, rolls easily.
Steady
Blunt nose, rarely stalls.
Which plane should I fold?
New to folding? Start with the Dart. Want distance, Suzanne; hang time, the Glider; loops, the Looper. The best paper airplanes explains each pick.
| Plane | Folds | How hard | How it flies | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glider | 7 | Easy | Floaty, wide loops | Hang time, indoors | No known designer |
| Suzanne | 10 | A little fiddly | The distance record: glides on and on | Distance, long glides | John Collins |
| Dart | 8 | Easy | Quick and true | A first plane, speed | Traditional |
| Arrow | 10 | Easy | Slim, fast, dead straight | Speed, hitting a target | No known designer |
| Heavy dart | 10 | A little fiddly | Goes far, sinks fast | Hard throws, speed | No known designer |
| Looper | 7 | Easy | Tight loops, rolls easily | Loops and tricks | No known designer |
| Nakamura lock | 11 | A little fiddly | Steady, rarely stalls | Steady flights, lasting | Eiji Nakamura |
| Bulldog dart | 9 | Easy | A blunt nose: steady and tough | Gentle throws, lasting | The Art of Manliness |
| Harrier | 11 | A little fiddly | A locked nose, pointed wings: steady and quick | Steady flights, all-round | The Art of Manliness |
| Hammer | 14 | A little fiddly | A snub nose, long slim wings: flies far and true | Distance, flying straight | The Art of Manliness |