How to Make a Paper Airplane That Actually Flies

Learn the basics of flight and aerodynamics by building and testing your own classic paper airplane. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Create the center crease. Lay your paper flat on the table. Fold it in half vertically (long ways), match the corners perfectly, and use your ruler to press down a sharp crease. Unfold it so you have a line down the middle.
2. Fold the nose. Take the top two corners and fold them toward the center crease so they form a triangle shape at the top of your paper. Make sure the edges line up exactly with the center line.
3. Shape the body. Fold the angled top edges toward the center line one more time to make the nose even pointier. This helps the plane cut through the air.
4. Form the wings. Fold the entire plane in half along your original center crease. Then, fold each side down to create wings, making sure the wings are even on both sides.