Fantastic Flight

by John M. Collins

The Guinness World Record holder says, "Let's Do Launch!"  These aren't your ordinary paper airplanes. These airplanes loop, circle back, flap their wings and spin, tumble, soar, and, of course, glide. In his best-selling book, THE GLIDING FLIGHT, award-winning paper airplane designer John Michael Collins introduced us to the craft of paper airplane folding. In FANTASTIC FLIGHT, the much-anticipated sequel, Collins reveals the next generation of fold-and-fly fun. He explains how to craft 24 new and amazing flying machines--like the Looper, the Bat plane, the Super Canard, and the Manta Ray--using just single sheets of paper. Featuring a wide range of paper airplanes, from simple designs suitable for young children to more complex planes that, believe it or not, will stay aloft indefinitely, FANTASTIC FLIGHT presents clear, step-by-step folding instructions for an activity the whole family can enjoy. As an extra bonus for teachers, Collins includes a special section on planning educational paper airplane contests complete with lesson ideas. FANTASTIC FLIGHT reveals how to combine aerodynamics, origami, and a single sheet of paper to create phenomenal flying fun.THE GLIDING FLIGHT has sold more than 40,000 copies.

180 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Ddd · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best paper airplane books! I got this for my nine-year-old son and we spent some time making each airplane. Most of them he could fold on his own without any help. The directions are easy to follow and it also has pictures to show how to fold them. They are great planes that fly really well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves paper airplanes.

[Sal Glynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More high-flying thrills from Collins with new planes that swirl, dip, flap, and return. Every growing boy and girl needs two.

[JJ Lehmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much of a read, but fun to make the paper airplanes.