Q&A for How to Improve the Design of any Paper Airplane

Try putting a paper clip at the nose to prevent it from getting bent. This can also help with how far the plane flies.

If you have a short plane, it's usually better to throw it upwards and let it glide down. You can make the plane angle upwards by bending the back ends of the plane upwards. If your plane goes too far up, this ends up limiting how far it can glide.

You cut squares into the back of the wing (not too big) and use them like the flaps on the side of proper aircraft.

The better you can stabilize the flight, the longer it will glide. Weight down the nose. Bend the back end of the plane upwards. Also, make sure your wings are pointed upwards. Try to keep the plane as symmetrical as possible.

Make flaps at the tail end of the plane. Fold one flap upwards, and the other flap downwards.

Fold the wings up, put tape on the front tip, or add a paper clip under the airplane shown above.

The change will weight down the plane. Try to distribute the change as much as possible. The front end of the plane needs to be weighted, but if you add to much there, it will plummet. Remember that any tape you add also changes the plane's dynamics.

Not necessarily. Try to undo the fold and correct the mistake. If your airplane doesn't fly well, just start over.

The way you optimize your throw depends on the plane. If you have a long, thin plane, you'll have to throw it gently. The higher you are and the straighter you throw it, the longer it will glide. If you have a short, sturdy plane, you can throw it harder. Throw it upwards and let it level out.

The Nakamura Lock and the Harrier are the two essential ones to know. The Harrier can be hard to find because it has several names, but you can find instructions for it by searching online.

When your plane stalls, the plane is unbalanced. You'll need to bring the nose down. To do this, try adding weight to the nose such as by wrapping it in tape or putting on a paperclip. You can also bend the back of the wings downward.

The Condor design is too big to fly well. You may get more out of it by taping the nose and bending the wings so that they point upwards. Downward fins at the ends of the wings may also help. This is a glider-type plane, so a slower throw may also help.

No, printing something on the paper will not affect the plane's ability to fly.

Cut squares on the back of the wings to use as the plane's navigation. Fold one square upwards, the other one downwards, and the plane should spin while in flight.