Most people ask how I got started. The truth is I never stopped. At some point, I started studying origami. Armed with a new set of folding tools, my planes really started to take better shape and fly better.
With The Gliding Flight, the first book, I managed to do something that hadn't been done yet: a collection of high performance, folded planes. The premise was simple: the only resource needed would be available in the average waste basket. It was a freeing idea and the simplicity appealed to me: one sheet of paper, some folding, and a great flying toy is created. Origami has given me the tools to create planes with landing gear, engine nacelles, tunnels in the nose, and most importantly; clean, efficient wing and body shapes.
With Fantastic Flight, I was working on paper airplanes that could do extraordinary things: circle back, flip over and fly back upside down, flap their wings, and some that can stay aloft using an updraft created by the pilot. These bold ideas are based on simple science. Folding is all that's required, even for the Super Canard; and aircraft with a small forward wing.
With The New World Champion Paper Airplane Book, my paper airplanes are officially world class. The truth is, my designs have been flying around in the winner's circle at the Red Bull World Finals for aerobatics the last few years.
My fourth book is self-published and contains all the planes from my world famous paper airplane shows. "The World Record Paper Airplane and International Award Winning Designs: The Best of John M Collins and More Paper Airplane Book" is the b... See more
Most people ask how I got started. The truth is I never stopped. At some point, I started studying origami. Armed with a new set of folding tools, my planes really started to take better shape and fly better.
With The Gliding Flight, the first book, I managed to do something that hadn't been done yet: a collection of high performance, folded planes. The premise was simple: the only resource needed would be available in the average waste basket. It was a freeing idea and the simplicity appealed to me: one sheet of paper, some folding, and a great flying toy is created. Origami has given me the tools to create planes with landing gear, engine nacelles, tunnels in the nose, and most importantly; clean, efficient wing and body shapes.
With Fantastic Flight, I was working on paper airplanes that could do extraordinary things: circle back, flip over and fly back upside down, flap their wings, and some that can stay aloft using an updraft created by the pilot. These bold ideas are based on simple science. Folding is all that's required, even for the Super Canard; and aircraft with a small forward wing.
With The New World Champion Paper Airplane Book, my paper airplanes are officially world class. The truth is, my designs have been flying around in the winner's circle at the Red Bull World Finals for aerobatics the last few years.
My fourth book is self-published and contains all the planes from my world famous paper airplane shows. "The World Record Paper Airplane and International Award Winning Designs: The Best of John M Collins and More Paper Airplane Book" is the book I'd want if I were starting to make paper airplanes.
I'm frequently asked, "What's your best paper airplane?" I can only answer with the question, "for what mission?" Do you need the best time aloft, the best distance, the best flapping wing, the most stall resistant, or the one that I've flown for more than a half hour?
I do a lot of public and private shows. I've been fortunate to see some of the world while showing off my planes. In any language the sound people make when they see the Bat Plane or the Tumbling Wing for the first time, is always the same. There's a gasp of wonder, some loud whispers of "no way"(or the equivalent) and a flurry of camera shutters. My dream has finally come true, and I'm making and throwing paper airplanes for a living. It's a crazy dream come true, and I invite you to join me for the fun.
Website
www.ThePaperAirplaneGuy.com
iPhone app: The Paper Airplane Guy's Construction Kit
YouTube Channel: The Paper Airplane Guy
Appearances:
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Carnegie Mellon
Stanford University
Clark University
Rice University
Mattel
Go Daddy
