NOVA SCOTIA: May 26 marks a day people across North America indulge in a spirited and creative celebration: National Paper Airplane Day.
It’s a day that invites individuals of all ages to let their inner child fly, by reliving the simple joys of childhood, and embracing the art of crafting paper airplanes and watching them take flight.
While National Paper Airplane Day’s origin story is somewhat of an unknown, what paper airplanes symbolize is not – as they are the ultimate symbol and epitome of imagination, childhood, simplicity, creativity, belief, optimism, and design.
Many believe the use of paper airplanes originated 2,000 years ago in China, with the earliest known date of the creation of modern paper planes being said to have been 1909.
Today, these lightweight aircraft serve as a source of inspiration not only for aviation enthusiasts but also engineers studying the complex effects of air on small aircrafts.
Making paper airplanes is a centuries-old activity that sparks nostalgia and creativity and ignites an interest in aviation, as it puts a personal touch to exploring the hidden wonders of flight.
For some, paper airplanes are simply a means to a distraction. For others, constructing a paper airplane opens a window into the world of aviation and piques aspirations to join an industry made up of extraordinary, unique people that share a passion for flying.
Regardless of its origin, National Paper Airplane Day is quickly taking off as a tradition to celebrate by individuals, schools, and communities nationwide, as the craft ultimately teaches the four forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust and drag.
Wilbur and Orville Wright would more than likely agree there’s something magical in being able to make a piece of paper fly through the air, mimicking that of a real airplane, from just a handful of folds.
National Paper Airplane Day ignores boundaries that span generations, as it unites people of all ages in a shared celebration of creativity and flight. Children discover the joy of flight, as they learn to fold their first paper airplane, while adults rediscover the thrill of creativity, among the requirements of everyday life.
In addition to commemorating creativity, National Paper Airplane Day also reminds us of the importance of experimentation, as each flight offers an opportunity for learning and improvement, encouraging perseverance and resilience in the face of failures.