The Dart Paper Airplane is probably the most common paper plane known to almost everyone. A dart plane is made with a single sheet of letter-sized copy paper and is relatively easy to make. You probably are familiar with the traditional types, but I bet you don’t have a clue about the variety of methods and kinds of airplanes that can be made with a little tweak here and there.
So, why bother with different varieties? If you are reading this article, then the chances are that you want to know how to Make the Best Paper Airplane. You are not one to settle for a paper plane that drops after you throw it.
That said, you need some variety in your knowledge of dart paper planes. Little tweaks in shape, fold and wind specifics can produce different results. We will show you in this article just how to make a specific type of dart paper airplane called The Hammerhead; it flies much better and looks better than the traditional dart plane.
Explaining the Hammerhead Plane
If you were wondering about how to make a paper airplane easy and fast, then the Hammerhead plane is probably a great place to start.
The Hammerhead is just one unique step away from the traditional paper airplane. It is shaped to have a more box-like form that enhances its air-intake and hence, its flight. When you are done with the folding, it will turn out to be quite smaller than the traditional dart plane, but I assure you that its flight is good.
Here is How to Make it
1. It is important that you use a medium letter size paper (8.5 inches x 11 inches) anything bigger may burden its flight.
2. Fold the paper in half and try as much as you can to be exact in aligning the edges.
3. Turn the paper so the crease is to the right and the paper opens up on the left-hand side. Now, make a crease to fold the tail diagonally inwards. This fold is along the vertical crease already created by step one above. (The right tail)
4. Unfold after the crease has been made and unfold the paper as well. Lay it flat on the surface with the creases made from the tail at the bottom.
5. Fold the upper right corner inwards and downwards to the point where the upper right point hits the center line crease. Check if your fold is accurate by checking if the right half of the top edge of your paper lines up perfectly with the center crease made by step one above. If it does, then you are right on course.
6. Fold the upper left corner inwards and downwards in the same way that you folded the right side. Make sure the left half of the top edge of your paper aligns with the center crease and sits pretty beside the already folded right half (They should touch just along the tips of the paper)
7. Rotate the paper, so the pointed nose is to your right. Create a crease a bit away from your already folded down flaps. The crease should be about halfway between the folded down flaps and the top point of the creases at the tail section.
8. Now fold the tip of the nose downwards along the newly created crease and rotate the paper back to its original position. (The now folded down nose should be pointing downwards towards you).
9. Fold the upper right corner downward and inwards, so the upper right point hits the center line crease. Check to make sure that the right half of the top edge lines up perfectly with the center line crease.
10. Fold the upper left corner downwards and inwards, in the same way as you did the right. The upper left edge should hit the center line crease. Check to make sure that the left half of the top edge lines up with the center line crease (It should just touch with the folded downright flap at the paper tips).
11. Fold the small triangular flap that points towards you upwards (the one lying under the larger triangular flaps), make sure that its pointed tip hits the center line crease. This will lock the larger flaps in place.
12. Turn the paper over so that all your folds are underneath and keep the tip pointing upwards away from you.
13. Fold the plane in an exact half along the center crease, so that the two sides touch.
Notice: If you do this properly, the center crease should also pop outwards at the center crease to form an inner triangular layer between your two halves. (Also, make sure the wing flaps are lined up equally for good balance)
14. Rotate the plane so that the pointy nose is pointing to the left and the wing flaps are pointing upwards.
15. Make a crease for the first wing flap and fold it downward and outwards. The crease towards the nose tip should be about two finger widths up from the pointed nose. Be careful not to make the crease too much away from the nose or too close either. The crease should be much closer to the nose than the pointed wings and should expose about half of the internal fuselage (The inner triangle formed in point 13).
16. Flip the plane over so that the first wing flap you just made is underneath, but the nose of the plane is still pointing to your left. Make a crease for the second wing flap in the same way as the first one and fold it downwards and outwards. Check to be sure that the wings line up perfectly for good balance.
17. Open up the wing flaps and ensure that the angles of both wings are even. Also, make sure that the tail of the plane is straight and even.
Making the Hammerhead is a great example of how to make a paper airplane easy and fast and still create something with great performance.
Throwing the Hammerhead
Launch the plane level or slightly pointing upwards. A medium to hard throw will usually see it flying pretty. It if spins, try adjusting the back of the tail. For a little more speed and a large positive dihedral angle, add a paper clip on the nose of the plane.
There you have it; The Hammerhead! Now, go and give it a try and happy flying!