Historians can trace back the invention of the paper plane to Ancient Japan, between the years 460-390 BCE during the height of paper folding also known as origami. Thousands of years later, paper planes played a pivotal role in the Wright Brothers’ designs for the airplane from 1899 to 1903, leading them to create the design for the first powered flyer. Today, paper planes are used to teach students about physics concepts such as aerodynamics, drag coefficients and velocity. Paper planes also make their rounds in the tattoo world, serving as primary inspiration for artists from around the world. Take a look at some seriously superb paper plane tattoos in the gallery below, then share your thoughts on the evolution of paper planes in the comments section on Facebook.
