Talk:Paper plane

The technique of throwing objects
The technique of throwing objects made out of paper most probably originated in Egypt, where the first pieces of papyrus were thrown through the air into trash cans

Maybe this is true, but it sure sounds like someone having a little fun with this article. Is there any factual basis for this sentence? &mdash;Bkell 03:00, 31 Dec 2004 (UTC)


 * From what I have researched (paperplane.org) website; it clearly says that. Squash 09:57, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Donating designs
I'm the owner of one of the pages that is linked (Joseph Palmer), and I'm interested in donating my four designs (Graphics & text) to the wikkipedia, but I'm not sure how this is done. Ideas?
 * Create a Wikipedia account. Upload a pictures then GFDL them. Squash 05:37, 29 September 2005 (UTC)

The OmniWing
I wish to submit my web site for inclusion for the purpose of discussion on paper airplanes. The OmniWing platform was conceived in the early 1970's with emphasis on flight stability and glide performance. Several variations presented. See at www.omniwing.com. Performancepaper (talk) 20:56, 22 October 2008 (UTC)

Ken Blackburn's page
The link to Ken Blackburn's page is now defunct. What is wikipedia's policy on this? Fire 00:10, 21 January 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure if there's a policy pe has it... 82.139.85.101 02:07, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

There are a lot of other paper airplane sites with decent paper airplanes--paperairplanes.co.uk, paperaeronautics.org, etc., for all paper airplane lovers... [[User:rohang.paa|paperaeronautics.o

World record
Hi. What is the record for the fastest paper airplane ever officially recorded, hand launched or otherwise? Should it be in the article? Thanks. AstroHurricane001(Talk+Contribs+Ubx) 23:00, 8 January 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure if there even is a fastest paper airplane record, since it might be somewhat difficult to measure that. Also, I don't see the purpose for that, especially when you consider that the speed of a plane would probably affect its flight negatively and depends greatly upon the thrower. It does sound like an interesting idea--I'll keep an eye open! -Rohan 24.6.16.156 (talk) 23:24, 20 January 2010 (UTC)
 * World records for paper aircraft in the Guinness Book of Records revolve around duration and distance travelled, and of wingspan. At the time of writing, paper planes do not appear to have an FAI class - I honestly wish they did ! I also often wonder what it would be - F8, F9 perhaps ? Aside from this, most paper models are gliders. With this in mind, and with the normal problems associated with l/d ratios, models with long ranges tend to fly faster. For instance, the Paper Pilot & White Wings gliders fly at a merry lick, a consequence of their long range flight characteristics - but models in the same series e.g. high performance sailplanes appear to float like gossamer on slightly breezy warm days. The occasions when paper models become powered make the definitions of speed somewhat meaningless, but duration and distance covered appear to be the critical factors in evaluating performance in flight.--Deepshark (talk) 12:29, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Possible improvements
I have attempted to improve this article by improving the language and restoring various sections lost through vandalism. However, I think the aerodynamics section is still confusing to those not familiar with the world of paper planes. Looking back to how the article was in 2004, I think the aerodynamics section read much better. Before I take the section back to that older version, what do the other editors think? Astronaut 14:35, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Prof Birch ? Who is that?
Having personally met Prof E.H. Mathews, and spoken with him, I take exception to the editor who replaced his name with a spurious 'Prof Birch of Wales' who was NEVER responsible for the PP gliders. If the replacer will identify himself / herself it would be appreciated, and some discussion entered into.

It is possible Prof. Birch was the disseminator of Prof. Mathews glider's in Europe during the 1980's, and some qualification would be appreciated - but the wholesale replacement of names was inappropriate given the circumstances.

Thanks, User Deepshark5

On a similar note: Tim Richardson?
The article mentions "Tim Richardson on his website" (or similar), but nowhere gives a link to this website, or the correct Tim Richardson. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 143.167.5.50 (talk) 10:27, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

Other Paper Airplane Sites
Does anyone know of some good paper airplane sites? I've tried paperaeronautics.org, paperairplanes.co.uk, and paperairplanes.net so far, but don't know more. Rohang paa (talk) 19:26, 22 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Hi. Back when I was excessively interested in paper airplanes, I searched for these on the Internet and found more than a dozen. You might want to search for something like "paper airplane" on a search engine. Books are a good resource too, I've found about as many airplane designs from book as from websites. This might also be a good question to ask on the Reference desk. Hope this helps. Thanks. ~ A H  1 (TCU) 13:23, 23 November 2007 (UTC)


 * an okay website with a ton of links to paper airplane designs is www.theonlinepaperairplanemuseum.com

a new website: www.4dpaperairplane.com. It's a 3-dimensional paper airplane model but also can be fly (so its named 4d paper airplane). It's a combination of 3d paper model and fly paper model. We should have a section for this 4D paper airplane model. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jiant4d (talk • contribs) 21:07, 5 February 2016 (UTC)

paper-aviator.com
paper-aviator.com offers eight different ways to make a paper airplane (more to come) with step by step video instructions. --Chilndan (talk) 06:42, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

Section: "Types of paper planes"
The section's material is written similar to an instruction manual (i.e. Wikibooks) rather than encyclopedic content. Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, or textbook. Please rewrite the section that establishes a neutral point of view. – nh.jg 01:03, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

Disambiguation page
I started a disambiguation page at paper plane (disambiguation), because the hatnotes on this page were starting to get a bit cluttered. Feel free to adjust and revert as needed. --Muchness (talk) 10:09, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

Aeroplane v Airplane
There is no such word as 'airplane'. The point is that we are not dealing with a different version of English; it's not as if we are talking about the difference between, say 'movie' and 'film'. These are both acceptable as American English and British English respectively. 'Movie' and 'film' are entirely separate words, independent of each other. With 'airplane' we are, in fact, dealing with a word that is simply a mis-applied and mis-spelt which has found its way into everyday American usage. This is the same vein as 'check' instead of 'cheque'. For that reason the word 'airplane' does not exist. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.5.216 (talk) 10:23, 16 August 2010 (UTC)
 * From my talk page:
 * "Google" didn't use to be a verb but now it is. 'Honour' used to be spelt 'honor' until it was corrupted to be French-like. Language changes and 'airplane' is the unquestionable American word for 'aeroplane'. I wrote this using Safari and the spell check is unfortunately set to American English – 'airplane' is accepted but 'aeroplane' appears with a squiggly red line underneath. Americans never say 'aeroplane'. McLerristarr (Mclay1) (talk) 10:26, 16 August 2010 (UTC)
 * "we are, in fact, dealing with a word"" - If airplane is not a word how can you say this? In any case, there are numerous dictionaries and millions of people who disagree with you. I'm one of them and I'm from Australia, where "aeroplane" is the correct spelling. Claiming it's not a word is really up there with claiming the Earth is flat. --AussieLegend (talk) 10:31, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * That's just being pedantic. In that context, of course it's a word in the sense that 'jumperstone' is a word - i.e. a series of letters which make up something which can be pronounced. What it is not, is a valid word. This is regardless of what these dictionaries say. I have given my opinion on why we can distinguish this particular word with other differences between American and English. If there is ever a word which is mis-spelt so often that it comes into standard usage, this does not automatically make it correct. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.5.216 (talk) 10:35, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Either way, it's fixed now isn't it? The article now only includes "Airplane" in the lead (where it is clarified), book titles, and citations. Chipmunkdavis (talk) 10:38, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Yeah, but it's good to discuss these things; very controversial, if somewhat unimportant, issue. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.5.216 (talk) 10:40, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * You said it yourself, you've given your 'opinion'. That's POV. Whether you like it or not, 'airplane' is a word in American English. Now we could be here forever discussing whether American English is a valid language, but to them it is, and since there are more Americans than Brits, Irishmen, Australians and New Zealanders combined, they have the right to spell how they want. P.S. Please put four tildes ( ~ ) after your post to sign your name. McLerristarr (Mclay1) (talk) 14:07, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * I don't have a name. But, it's not a word; simple as. 78.150.5.128 (talk) 17:41, 16 August 2010 (UTC)


 * As there are numerous sources supporting airplane's existence as a word, in accordance with Wikipedia's verfiability policy, until such time as you can provide a citation from a reliable source confirming your belief that it isn't, it will continue to be treated as a word. --AussieLegend (talk) 23:31, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

Are you still going on about this? I'm bored. Or am I board? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.21.193 (talk) 07:47, 17 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Perhaps we can lay this one to rest simply - the article is called 'Paper Plane', in order to avoid this very topic. What say ye ?--Deepshark (talk) 12:31, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

In what english speaking country or parlance is "paper plane" the accepted term?
This page should be renamed paper airplane. Wikipedia is not supposed to be a source for new words or terms but a reflection of accepted language. 24.136.136.72 (talk) 11:07, 13 July 2011 (UTC)
 * That is the accepted language here. JJ Harrison (talk) 11:21, 13 July 2011 (UTC)
 * It's explained in the lead of the article that it's a difference in UK-US English spelling. The articles title is in UK English. --Τασουλα (Shalom!) (talk) 19:24, 13 July 2011 (UTC)


 * I would support moving back to 'paper airplane" though on the basis that google has 3.7 million hits for that and only 2.8 million for "paper plane". Dmcq (talk) 12:09, 20 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Actually, 'paper plane' isn't the dominant term in the UK either, despite the title of the Status Quo song - that's 'paper aeroplane'. It does satisfy WP:GLOBALIZE though. --Ef80 (talk) 00:03, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

DC3-glider? It's all over t'internet
JJhashisreasons (talk) 19:38, 30 July 2012 (UTC) I see a bunch of 'DC-3 of paper aeroplanes' on the Internet, one from Costa Rica in zurqui.co.cr. Is it worth noting?
 * Things really need to be in a book or a newspaper to get past first base for inclusion in articles. If on a web site it has to be written by someone who is an acknowledged expert - normally by having written books or papers on the subject. See WP:reliable sources Dmcq (talk) 00:11, 31 July 2012 (UTC)

other designs
Pgr0 (talk) 23:45, 3 August 2012 (UTC) While you are talking about ways of propelling paper airplanes, you might mention that walkalong gliding involves the continuous propulsion of  paper airplane designs (such as the tumblewing and paper airplane surfer ) by  soaring flight on the edge of a sheet of cardboard.

Jiant4d (talk) 22:45, 5 February 2016 (UTC) The 4d paper airplane is a fly-able 3d paper airplane model, or 3d airplane glider. The 4d paper airplane combines White-wing design for aerodynamics and 3d scaled paper model based on real airplane. Although there is some limitation for mimicking airplanes which heavily depend on fly-by-wire technology, most 4d paper airplane model has some aerodynamic representation for its real counterpart.

Semi-protected edit request on 12 January 2014
{{edit semi-protected||answered=no}

Please add a paragraph or at least a hint, that newest paper planes use profile shaped wings like real airplanes. These paperplanes have a much higher glide ratio than old fashioned paper planes and because of this have advantages in paper plane competition. Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWccBs3H05Y

62.156.52.72 (talk) 14:17, 12 January 2014 (UTC)

ProjectSpacePlanes was never verified
Their site, which has not been updated since early 2011, makes no reference to successful verification of those outrageous distances "reported", like Australia, South Africa, or North America. The BBC website just pooped out a pointless fluff piece today mentioning those 'facts' about the outcome. They also could not, as the article says, withstand "gusts up to 100mph", which is a bad interpretation of what the source news article says. (A badly-written article anyhow; exactly what is a "virtual stabilizer?") Anyway, I would take out all these clunky sentences, unless you just want to leave the factoid that "some guys dropped some from a balloon once". I would, but, you know, Wikipedia apparently hasn't figured out how to block only little brats from Ohio from screwing with pages (hint: IP address blocking). They have no problem needlessly publicizing mine, of course. Luckily it's dynamic. 208.65.89.155 (talk) 01:15, 4 June 2014 (UTC)
 * Could you just leave it alone unless you have a citation showing something wrong or says something different about it please. What you say on a talk page does not count as a WP:reliable source. Dmcq (talk) 12:58, 4 June 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 January 2015
I think it would be necessary to add this following paper airplane as example for paper airplanes with profile wings, because this plane is a "milestone" in the development of paper airplanes. It is in fact the first Paper airplane with a real profiled wing, which could be build easily. Build Instructions Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWccBs3H05Y Free Blueprint for Printing http://www.pdf-archive.com/2014/12/01/profile-paper-plane/profile-paper-plane.pdf

Styleboyle2 (talk) 20:30, 2 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Wikipedia is not a how-to guide, nor are these WP:RS Cannolis (talk) 23:08, 2 January 2015 (UTC)

500BCE?
No paper yet in 500BCE.Ribosome2012 (talk) 02:02, 21 June 2015 (UTC)

References in Popular Culture
Surely a section on Popular Culture references is in order. I mean such instances as when in Planet of the Apes, Taylor constructs a paper aeroplane as a throwaway gesture of his own technological superiority; incurring the wrath of Dr Zaius, who crushes it. Nuttyskin (talk) 12:43, 8 January 2017 (UTC) Nuttyskin (talk) 12:43, 8 January 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 11 June 2017
External Links: fix DMOZ URL to "https://dmoztools.net/Arts/Crafts/Paper/Origami/Paper_Airplanes/" 37.48.37.230 (talk) 17:15, 11 June 2017 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done Izno (talk) 17:50, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 11 August 2019
Change Wiwatersrand to Witwatersrand in "In 1984, Professor E.H. Mathews, lecturer in Thermodynamics at the University of the Wiwatersrand" G0atsen (talk) 08:50, 11 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done Danski454 (talk) 09:37, 11 August 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 November 2019
the highest paper airplane altitude launch was 35043 metres high 205.169.166.82 (talk) 21:22, 1 November 2019 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. NiciVampireHeart 05:15, 2 November 2019 (UTC)

World record
The world record of Takuo Toda is not 27.9 seconds but 29.2 seconds. See this source. Thieu1972 (talk) 11:44, 15 January 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 21 December 2021
add the following to the bottom of the Notable Books list: Advancedpaperairplanes (talk) 17:38, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Advanced Paper Airplanes For Kids and Adults, by Andrew Thorne, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the template. Unlikely that this is WP:DUE, given that it is published on an independent publishing platform. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 17:54, 22 December 2021 (UTC)