A paper aeroplane is folded from a single sheet of A4 paper into a flying dart shape. The classic design takes around two minutes to make and can glide across an entire living room with a smooth throw. It is the simplest aviation experiment any child can try at home.

🎨 What You Need

  • One sheet of A4 paper
  • A clean flat surface
  • Optional: pencil for decorating wings
  • Optional: paper clip for nose weight

How to Fold a Paper Aeroplane

  1. Lay your paper portrait on the table and fold it in half lengthways, then open it back up to leave a centre crease.
  2. Fold the top two corners inward so they meet exactly at the centre line, forming a pointed triangle.
  3. Fold the new long edges into the centre line a second time to make a narrow sharp nose.
  4. Close the whole plane along the centre crease, with the folds now hidden inside.
  5. Make the wings by folding the top edge of each side downward to line up with the body.
  6. Turn the plane upside down so the wings stand out like the letter T.
  7. Decorate with pen markings, stripes or stickers along each wing.
  8. Pinch the body underneath and throw forward with a flat wrist flick.
💡 Parikshet's Tip: If your plane spins instead of gliding, your two wings are not the same height. Always match them up edge to edge before throwing.

🌟 Did You Know?

The first paper aeroplane was made in China over 2000 years ago, where children folded glider toys from rice paper long before real aeroplanes existed.

Flying Tips

  • Always throw with a smooth flick, never force
  • Both wings must be equal height
  • A small paper clip on the nose adds glide distance
  • Test indoors first to learn the throw

🎯 Distance Challenge

  1. Mark a starting line on the floor
  2. Throw your plane three times
  3. Measure each landing with a measuring tape
  4. Try to beat your best distance