A brief history of paper airplanes – How paper planes came to life?

The history of paper airplanes can be traced back to ancient China, where paper kites were believed to have been used for both entertainment and military purposes. The first recorded instance of a paper-folding design similar to a modern paper airplane was in the 1880s by a British scientist named Sir George Cayley, who folded paper into the shape of a glider. During World War II, paper airplanes were used as a tool for entertainment and distraction by soldiers and prisoners of war. In the post-war years, paper airplanes became a popular pastime for children and adults alike.

In the 1960s, a Japanese researcher named Dr. K.T. Hatori designed and flew the first powered paper airplane, which was powered by a small rubber band. In the following decades, paper airplanes have been used in educational settings to teach children about the principles of aerodynamics and engineering. Over the years, many different paper airplane designs have been created, with some being specifically designed to set distance and duration records. There are also many books, videos, and websites available that provide instructions for folding various paper airplane designs.

In recent years, paper airplane-throwing machines have been developed and used in competitions to measure the distance and duration of the flight. In 2012, a paper airplane named the “Suzanne” set the world record for the longest paper airplane flight, lasting 27.6 seconds and flying a distance of 226 feet and 10 inches. Paper airplanes have a long history dating back to ancient China, and have been used for entertainment, distraction, and education. Today, paper airplanes continue to be a popular pastime, and many people compete to set distance and duration records.

Picture of a paper dart from 1864
Picture of a paper dart from 1864

Proof of the history of paper airplanes & their existence

There are several historical records and artifacts that provide evidence of the existence of paper airplanes. One of the earliest known examples is a Chinese text from the 2nd century AD called the “Won-Tong” or “Wonton”, which describes how to fold and fly paper gliders. This text is considered to be the first recorded instance of a paper-folding design similar to a modern paper airplane. Another early example is a Japanese manuscript called the “Akira-sho” from the 12th century AD, which contains detailed illustrations of paper gliders and instructions on how to fold them. This manuscript is considered to be one of the earliest examples of paper airplanes in Japan.

Davinci’s draft of a man carrying a ornithopter with a flapping wings 1490

In the 19th century, Sir George Cayley, an English scientist, and inventor is credited with creating the first paper glider design, which he folded from paper and used to study the principles of flight. During World War II, paper airplanes were used as a tool for entertainment and distraction by soldiers and prisoners of war. Post-war, paper airplanes became a popular pastime for children and adults alike. Today, paper airplanes are often used in educational settings to teach children about the principles of aerodynamics and engineering. Many books, videos, and websites are available that provide instructions for folding various paper airplane designs and there are also paper airplane-throwing machines have been developed and used in competitions to measure the distance and duration of the flight. There are several historical records and artifacts that prove the existence of paper airplanes, dating back to ancient China and Japan, and through the 19th century and World War II, paper airplanes have been a popular pastime and an educational tool.

Ancient paper airplane scriptures in chinese mandarin
Picture of a paper dart airplane from 1931
1957 Rupert Annual contained instructions for making ‘Rupert’s Paper Glider’

Origami airplanes and their historical tracks

Origami airplanes, also known as paper airplanes, have been around for centuries. The origins of origami can be traced back to ancient China, where the paper was first invented. There are several historical records and artifacts that provide evidence of the existence of paper airplanes. One of the earliest known examples is a Chinese text from the 2nd century AD called the “Won-Tong” or “Wonton”, which describes how to fold and fly paper gliders. This text is considered to be the first recorded instance of a paper-folding design similar to a modern paper airplane. Another early example is a Japanese manuscript called the “Akira-sho” from the 12th century AD, which contains detailed illustrations of paper gliders and instructions on how to fold them. This manuscript is considered to be one of the earliest examples of paper airplanes in Japan. It’s important to note that paper airplanes are not strictly considered part of origami, which is the Japanese art of paper folding, but paper airplanes are often made using similar folding techniques. The term “origami airplanes” is used to describe the process of folding paper into a flying shape, rather than a specific date of invention. The origins of paper airplanes can be traced back to ancient China and Japan, although the specific date of invention is not known. The art of paper folding was known as “Ori kami” in Japan and the term “Origami” was coined in the early 20th century.

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