The Effects of the Size of the Paper in the Flight of a Paper Airplane

Paper Size

• The paper size really has no effect on the flight of the paper airplane if the plane is folded properly. The weight of the paper does make a difference. Paper that is too light will be flimsy and blow away easily. Heavier paper provides the airplane with more stability. Stability makes the airplane fly straighter. The larger the paper, the more the paper must weigh.

Paper Weight

• Selecting a paper size that weighs between 18 and 28 pounds per stacks of 500 sheets will make the best paper airplanes. A piece of paper that weighs too much will also affect the flight of the paper airplane, similar to using paper that is too light. Paper that has more weight can be folded to make better right angles or 90-degree angle. The smoother and straighter the folds, the longer the paper airplane will remain in flight.

Paper Thickness

• The thickness of the paper must be taken into consideration because it can affect the flight of the paper airplane. Thinner paper makes the paper airplane too light. Thick paper makes the plane too heavy to fly. Copier paper or construction paper has the proper thickness. The thicker paper strengthens the wings on the paper airplane. Stronger wings will carry the weight of the entire plane better and make the plane have a smoother flight.

Wing Size

• The size of the paper wings on the plane makes a difference in the flight. A wing span that is twice as long a the body of the plane will cause the wings to flap. The stability of the plane is affected by the longer wings, which causes the plane to pitch up into a stall and fall to the ground or nose dive.