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An unsubstantiated history of the paper airplane

Paper Airplanes in History

There are a few different unsubstantiated stories about the history of the paper airplane. One story claims that the first paper airplanes were made by Chinese inventors. Another story claims that the first paper airplanes were made by Japanese origami masters.

However, there is no real evidence to support either of these stories. It is more likely that the first paper airplanes were invented by someone who was just playing around with a piece of paper.

Whoever invented the paper airplane, they probably had no idea how popular their invention would become. Paper airplanes are now flown all over the world by people of all ages.

The Origins of Paper Airplanes

Paper airplanes are a simple yet fascinating invention. Though it is not known exactly who invented the first paper airplane, we do know that they have been around for centuries.

Key moments in paper airplane history

Paper airplanes are a simple yet fascinating invention. Their history is full of interesting stories and facts.

The first recorded instance of a paper airplane was in China, circa 500 A.D. This ancient Chinese kite-making manual shows how to make a glider out of paper and bamboo.

Around 1680, Sir George Cayley, considered the father of aviation, experimented with paper models of wings. In 1896, Augustus M. Herring patented his design for a "toy flying machine." This was one of the first documented cases of somebody trying to make a practical paper airplane.

The next great step in paper airplane history came from the Wright brothers. In 1903, they wrote a letter to their father describing how to fold a paper airplane that would fly well. The design they created is still used today.

Paper airplanes were first used in warfare during World War I when pilots would drop them from their planes for entertainment. It wasn’t until World War II that paper airplanes were used as weapons, with the U.S. military using them to drop leaflets over Japan.

Since then, there have been countless designs and modifications created for paper airplanes. Today, they remain a popular pastime for children and adults alike.

First Recorded Use of a Paper Airplane in the United States

In 1903, at a Salvation Army fair in New York City, a boy made the first recorded use of a paper airplane in the United States. The plane was made from a sheet of tissue paper and flew about 20 feet.

It wasn't until 50 years later that the first instructions for making a paper airplane were published. In 1958, Peter Conradi-Morgan, an Englishman living in Tokyo, wrote "The Paper Airplane Book." The book included instructions for making six different planes, including the "Dart," which is still popular today.

Since then, paper airplanes have been used for recreation, competition and even as a tool for scientific research. In 2012, NASA used paper airplanes to test landing gear designs for Mars rovers.

In conclusion,the paper airplane is a simple yet fascinating invention with a long and varied history. From its humble beginnings as a child's toy, to its use in WWII, the paper airplane has come a long way. Today, there are many different types of paper airplanes, each with its own unique design. So whether you're a child or an adult, there's a paper airplane out there for you. So what are you waiting for? Go make one today!

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