Paper airplane games and contests

Three simple paper airplane games

Landing zones

Mark three broad zones on the floor. Score one, two or three points for the zone where the nose first lands. Take three turns each and add the points.

Target landing

Place a large paper target flat on the floor. Each player gets three flights. The landing closest to its centre wins; measure ties.

Team relay

One player folds, another checks the symmetry, and a third launches. Measure the flight, swap roles, and try to improve the team’s previous result.

Agree on the rules before the first throw

Use one sheet per plane, the same size and weight for everyone. For a folding-only contest, allow no tape, clips or cuts. Give each player three scored attempts, with practice beforehand.

1. Mark a launch line and a clear landing lane. Everyone waits behind the thrower; retrieve planes only after the lane is clear.
2. For distance, measure from the line to the first point of contact with the floor. Record a crossed launch line as a foul and count it as an attempt.
3. For time aloft, start timing at release and stop at first landing. Use the same timer for all attempts.
4. For accuracy, measure from the target centre to the nose at its first landing. Keep target size and position unchanged.
5. Use the best of three for distance or duration, and the smallest miss for accuracy. Give tied players one extra flight each.

Launchers: keep the release repeatable

For a first game, launch by hand. In a test, the same thrower, height and direction help keep flights comparable.

A rubber-band launcher can release a plane from the same position each time. Use a purpose-made launcher and a plane with a secure attachment; an ordinary dart has no launcher hook. Keep the pull-back distance and angle unchanged between tests, point down a clear lane, and keep faces out of the band’s path.