Paper Plane Flight Challenge for Kids

The exact origins of the humble paper plane are unclear. Some say it stems from ancient China where kites were made from papyrus; others point to Japan and its origami pioneers. Renaissance polymath and all-round clever clogs Leonardo Da Vinci is also suggested to have featured on the timeline as he developed prototypes for his madcap flying machine, the ornithopter.

Precisely when the first paper plane was flown we’ll probably never know, but its popularity shows no sign of running out of fuel. Visit almost any school in Australia (or around the world) and you will likely find the remnants of paper plane crash sites in the playgrounds, as well as the soaring successes stuck in neighbouring trees.

The appeal of creating paper plane designs is understandable – it’s an activity that is great fun and very cost effective. But it also teaches children the fundamentals of aerodynamics and air resistance. Plus, paper folding challenges their fine motor skills and the repeated test runs develop problem-solving skills and creativity, the basis of STEM learning.

Whether you use a model-building kit or a single sheet of A4 paper, the aim of the game is distance. How far your paper plane design will fly has fascinated kids and aviation experts alike for many years.

The previous world record for farthest flight by a paper aircraft was only recently broken by Liu Liwen in China, who threw his plane a whopping 98.43 metres on 28 December 2025.

Here, we’re going to build three simple paper planes and test how far they fly. All you need is a stack of paper, a tape measure and two willing pilots, Leo, aged 10, and Elliott, 7. For each model we will have three flights and take an average distance from that (by adding the scores for all flights and dividing by three).

For full instructions on how to fold each paper plane, download this printable PDF.

Paper Plane #1: The Basic Dart

A hand holding a basic dart paper plane made from blue paper outdoors against a clear sky, with blurred trees in the background.

First off is the classic: the basic dart. Most people have built some version of this paper plane in their lives, then often move on to more advanced models. But, hey, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

How to Make a Basic Dart Paper Plane

A series of images showing how to fold an A4 sheet into a basic dart paper plane: fold lengthways, bring top corners to centre, fold point down, fold in half, then fold wings and crease.

Step 1: Fold a piece of A4 paper in half lengthways, then re-open.

Step 2: Fold the two top corners into the middle.

Step 3: Fold the two angled edges into the middle.

Step 4: Fold in half down the middle.

Step 5: Fold the wings out, to match the bottom edge.

How Did It Fly?

Throw 1: 406cm

Throw 2: 386cm

Throw 3: 367cm

Average distance: 386cm

The Verdict

“Pretty good, it spun less when we folded the sides of the wings up.” – Leo

Paper Plane #2: The Bulldog Dart

A hand holding a bulldog dart paper plane made from green paper outdoors against a clear sky, with blurred trees in the background.

This development of the basic paper plane is still achievable in a small number of folds. The snub nose is the defining characteristic of this model.

How to Make a Bulldog Dart Paper Plane

Step 1: Fold a piece of A4 paper in half lengthways, then re-open.

Step 2: Fold the two top corners into the middle.

Step 3: Flip your paper over and fold the top angled edges back to meet the middle.

Step 4: Fold the top point down to meet in the middle

Step 5: Fold in half lengthways.

Step 6: Make a straight fold that starts at the corner of the nose, folding back each side to create the wings.

Hot Tip: To hold your paper plane together, you could try a small piece of double-sided tape inside the middle fold.

‍How Did It Fly?

Throw 1: 459cm

Throw 2: 507cm

Throw 3: 522cm

Average distance: 496cm

The Verdict

“Better than the basic dart, but doesn’t fly very straight! I think we need to adjust the wings.” – Elliott

A series of images showing how to fold an A4 sheet into a bulldog dart paper plane: crease lengthways; fold top corners to centre; fold nose down and lock with small triangle; fold in half; form wide wings, blunt nose.

Hot Tip: To hold your paper plane together, you could try a small piece of double-sided tape inside the middle fold.

Paper Plane #3: The Harrier

A hand holding a harrier paper plane made from red paper outdoors against a clear sky, with blurred trees in the background.

This is a much smaller, more compact paper plane than the previous two. The folding techniques are slightly more advanced too, but still achievable for children of all ages.

How to Make a Harrier Paper Plane

Step 1: Fold a piece of A4 paper in half lengthways and widthways, then re-open.

Step 2: Fold the top corners into the middle top to create a point, then fold this point down to meet the bottom edge of the paper.

‍Step 3: Fold the top corners down to the middle and fold up the triangular flap at the bottom.

‍Step 4: Turn your paper over and fold in half lengthways.

Step 5: Make a diagonal fold down the middle then fold out the wings.

How Did It Fly?

Throw 1: 486cm

Throw 2: 581cm

Throw 3: 710cm

Average distance: 592cm

The Verdict

“Goes very far, but it goes really high and then down. It’s like a stunt plane.” – Leo

A series of images showing how to fold an A4 sheet into a harrier paper plane: crease lengthways and open; fold top corners to centre twice and fold nose; fold in half; make wide wings with small tip winglets.

The Overall Verdict

All the paper planes flew well, but we found it’s worth a little extra effort to make the Harrier. Its initial take-off trajectory was much steeper, and that early climb equaled a far greater overall distance. Try all the paper plane designs and see which one works best for you. Happy flying!