Paper aircraft pre-date full size aircraft by hundreds of years. it's probable that, just like aircraft designers of today, the early designers learned a thing or two by experimenting with folded planes.
The power to create a flying machine from such a modest resource, is a wonderous thing. It's the cause of smiles all around the globe. The act of flying a good paper airplane needs no translation. It's a universal symbol of whimsy, and technology. It's also universally fun. That's what makes paper airplanes such a great way to demonstrate basic research methods and systems of science that help us understand our world.
About
“It's probable that, just like aircraft designers of today, the early designers learned a thing or two by experimenting with folded planes.”
--John Collins
The National Paper Airplane Contest is made possible by John Collins, dedicated to providing STEM education using paper airplanes. World record holder for paper airplane distance, John Collins, has taught millions of people how to fold and fly paper airplanes. John has written four books containing his original paper airplane designs.
John and all the founding members of The National Paper Airplane Contest, see paper airplanes as an elegant and inexpensive way to teach the systems of science to learners of all ages.