Home

Motorize Your Paper Airplane

Sure, you've folded paper airplanes before. But I bet they don't stay airborne for very long. But they will, thanks to this clever little hack.

PopSci designed their eAT-6 "Texan" paper airplane specifically to meet the requirements of their secret ingredient: a motor.

Equipped with a small electric motor powered by big electrolytic capacitor, the paper airplane can fly steadily for about ten seconds, with a flying distance of 30 to 100 feet.

To make the paper airplane itself, check out both instruction sheets (1, 2). To motorize it, go to the step-by-step assembly instructions.

Japanese aircraft soaring in a blue sky with clouds.

Aircraft design blueprints and drafting tools.

Paper airplane design outline

Diagram of a motor assembly with labeled components: Header Pins, Gold Cap Capacitor, and Motor.

Model airplane with batteries.

Hand holding a model airplane with a Japanese flag design.

Previously, THE Wilbur Wright of Paper Airplanes.

You already know how to use your phone. With Gadget Hacks' newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.