Paper Airplanes

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Paper airplanes are probably the most common type of paper folding around today. However, it's not always immediately associated with origami and often books on paper airplanes are the 'cut n' paste' variety. Not very satisfying.

There are many books associated with award winning paper plane designs, and I've assembled some photos of models from two of my favourite paper plane authors - Franco Pavarin of Italy, and Carmen Morris (sometimes published as Campbell Morris) of Australia. These are great designs, largely made from a single sheet of paper (square, letter sized or A4) and rarely requiring cuts or tape. They are reminiscent of that first moment when we, as children, discover that with a few quick folds we can FLY! And they aren't content to be merely 'planes' - some of these are *spaceships*!

Another really cool thing is that all of the planes featured here do fly well! There are some other fancy origami flyers that look good but do not so much fly as plummet. And there are some fancy airplane models that are just for show. But these planes can fly with style :) I keep them in a large box in my studio to pull out and fling around when the wild mood strikes me, or to share with friends when we're in a silly mood and raring for a dogfight in the living room. Enjoy!

This first lot are Carmen Morris' designs from several sources. I do not know if any of her books remain in print.

Bow Tie Fighter
An excellent glider made from two sheets joined in the middle.

Classic Cigar UFO
The round flier is a very stable shape in the air.

Cylon Fighter Ship
Just sooo cool!

Simple Flying Saucer
Essentially a paper frisbee. It works very well.

Galaxy Cruiser

H-Wing Glider
Reminiscent of a Star Wars Tie Fighter.

Lunar Lander
This one is not thrown, but dropped from a height. It rotates gently as it falls.

Rocket Glider
A very cool dart.

Star Blazer
This one looks like a sparrow in flight!

Star Orbiter
A little tricky to launch - you don't throw it like a conventional plane, but push it from behind and it'll glide across the room :)

Bat-Wing Stealth Glider
Another way cool glider. It might have been the power of suggestion of its name, but I swear the wings gently flap in the air currents.

U-Wing
Requires simple cutting to get the unique shape but it flies great.

X-Wing Fighter
I folded this and thought "No way will it fly!" Then I threw it and it *zoomed*! I was ready to make my run on the Death Star!!

This second lot is from the Italian edition of Franco Pavarin's book of airplanes, jets and spaceships. I believe it has been reprinted in two volumes in English. I found my copy on ebay though, so again - I don't know if it remains in print.

More than Ms Campbell's designs, a foundation in origami is very helpful when folding Mr. Pavarin's designs as he makes use of collapses and squashes to achieve his fantastic designs.

It's one cool spaceship after another and THEY ALL FLY!!

Alpha Centauri