High-Performance Paper Airplanes. Andrew Dewar

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      Flight safety

      Your paper airplanes will fly much faster and farther than you expect. And they can be dangerous if they hit people. Never fly close to trees and power lines, or climb into them to retrieve your plane; the danger isn’t worth it. Stay away from roads and cars. And never, ever point the planes at people or animals. I also recommend wearing glasses or sunglasses and a hat when flying your planes, for your own safety.

      Throwing the plane

      Hold the plane so it is banked out slightly, and give it a firm throw. Give it a push with your fingers, but be careful not to twist your wrist. Slow and smooth is better than a violent snap. And don’t forget the follow-through.

      Using the Catapult

      Assembling the catapult

      The catapult starts with about 18 inches (50 cm) of model airplane rubber motor stock. Knot it into a loop, and then tie the loop to a short stick or pencil as shown. Give it a good pull to tighten the knots. You can use ordinary rubber bands if you have to, but you will need to link two or three together, and because they accelerate the plane very quickly, you can’t launch quite as hard if you do.

      Using the hook