Fold, customize, and launch. How far can yours fly?
The classic sharp-nosed dart. Fast and accurate with low drag.
Paper Airplane Simulator is a free browser-based physics game where you design, customize, and launch paper airplanes. Choose from 8 authentic designs including the classic Dart, slow-gliding Glider, acrobatic Stunt plane, wide stable Wide-Body, aerodynamic Delta wing, pitch-stable Canard, looping Ring wing, and returning Boomerang. Each design has unique aerodynamic properties that change how far and how gracefully it flies.
The simulator uses real aerodynamics equations — lift scales with velocity squared, wing area, and angle of attack. Drag opposes motion. Gravity pulls down. Wind varies by environment. Stalls occur when the angle of attack exceeds the critical threshold. Everything you experience reflects genuine flight physics.
Start in the Build phase: pick a design, adjust wing dihedral angle, set tail flap deflection, and optionally add a paperclip for nose weight. Choose your paper style and environment (Indoor, Park, or Rooftop). Then switch to the Fly phase and use the slingshot mechanic — drag back from the airplane to set power and angle, then release to throw. After landing, see your distance and flight time, watch the dotted flight path replay, and compare against your personal best scores stored locally in your browser.
The Dart design typically achieves the greatest distance due to its streamlined nose and low drag coefficient. However, in windy conditions the Glider and Delta designs can exploit thermals and updrafts for longer flights. Test all 8 designs to find the best for each environment.
Wing shape determines the lift-to-drag ratio. A wider wing generates more lift at lower speeds for slower, longer glides. Narrow delta wings excel at higher speeds with lower drag. The Canard uses forward mini-wings for improved pitch stability. Wing dihedral angle (upward tilt) increases lateral stability and prevents rolling.
The Guinness World Record for farthest flight is 88.318 meters (289 ft 9 in), set by Joe Ayoob in 2012 using John Collins' "Suzanne" design. The airtime record is 29.2 seconds, set by Takuo Toda in 2009. Can you beat these records in the simulator?