How to Fly Wood Planes

Open the kit carefully. Most come in small plastic bags. If this is the case with yours, use scissors to very carefully cut across the top end of the bag to open it. If you just pull the bag open, there is a good chance you will break or damage one of the fragile balsa wood pieces.

Assemble the wood plane as directed by the instructions in the kit.

Find a large, open area with little to no wind. The plane may fly farther than you expect, so the larger the area the better. If you can't find a completely flat area, one with shrubs and bushes is better than one with trees.

Wind the rubber band on your balsa plane (if applicable). This is usually done by twisting the front propeller. Check the directions to see how much you should wind the rubber band. As a general rule of thumb, start with fewer twists and work your way up once you have a sense of how far the plane will fly. If you twist the rubber band too much, you can break the rubber band.

Hold the plane pointed in the direction you want it to fly and slightly upward. If your plane uses a rubber band, hold the propeller in place so the rubber band will not unwind.

Release your plane! If the plane does not have a rubber band, you will have to throw it with a bit of force. If it does use a rubber band, a light toss should do.