John Collins is the Paper Airplane Guy. His presentations are visually stunning and entertaining with the goal of engaging the audience and presenting great information. Students will explore science using the fun and wonder of paper airplanes.
Virtual/Online Option Available!
STEAM at a distance. The Paper Airplane Guy, John Collins, was one of the first to take his Paper Airplane STEM School Assembly into the virtual space. So far, he has presented for WIRED, Make, Atria University in India, St George’s School in Vancouver, SC Johnson (multiple schools through the Kaleidoscope program), and Cameo Cinema in St. Helena.
The Paper Airplane Guy's 45-minute virtual school show demonstrates a wide variety of aerodynamic principles: Lift, Drag, Gravity, Wing Loading, Control Surfaces, Dihedral Angle, Theories of Lift, Stalls, Canard Design, Scale Effects, Glide Ratio, Sink Rate, and the crazy cool secret of the world record paper airplane. Twenty-four of John's original designs provide real proof for the theories, plus a whole lot of fun for students (and staff too!).
It’s real aerodynamics instruction, teaching the physics of flight online, demonstrated and explained using paper airplanes. It’s fun and the materials are inexpensive and readily available in most homes and schools, because it’s only paper. The virtual assembly includes 30 minutes of live and engaging instructional demonstrations, followed by 15 minutes of hands-on paper airplane making.
There is a version of the virtual school assembly available for K-3 that is appropriate for their level of developmental dexterity and fine motor skills.
John Collins is The Paper Airplane Guy. He is a keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience, as well as an author, and a world record holder for paper airplane distance. His presentations are visually stunning and entertaining with the goal of engaging the audience and presenting great information. Students will explore science using the fun and wonder of paper airplanes.
The Paper Airplane Guy's 45-minute school show demonstrates a wide variety of aerodynamic principles: Lift, Drag, Gravity, Wing Loading, Control Surfaces, Dihedral Angle, Theories of Lift, Stalls, Slope Soaring, Canard Design, Scale Effects, Glide Ratio, Sink Rate, and the crazy cool secret of the world record paper airplane. Twenty four of John's original designs provide real proof for the theories, plus a whole lot of fun for students (and staff too!).
It’s real aerodynamics instruction, teaching the physics of flight, demonstrated and explained using paper airplanes. It’s fun and the materials are inexpensive and readily available in most schools, because it’s only paper. The interactive school assembly includes 30 minutes of live and engaging instructional demonstrations, followed by 15 minutes of hands-on paper airplane making.
Planes will streak across the room, glide gently, tumble, flap their wings, circle back, flip over, fly upside down, and spin for what seems like forever. Though forever may vary! Older students most enjoy the chance to learn how to fold the world-record airplane.
Best for grades 4 and older. There is a version of the assembly available for K-3 that is appropriate for their level of developmental dexterity and fine motor skills.
John broke the world record for flight distance of a paper aircraft in 2012; a record he still holds. He is the author of four books of original designs, and has been called the world’s foremost expert on paper airplanes. His planes are recognized around the globe, and one was featured in the movie “Paper Planes”. His books have been translated into German, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. His designs are routinely found at the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will be inducting John’s aerodynamically unique, world record design, into the collection, as part of the reopening of the “How Things Fly” exhibit in 2022.
Audience: K-12 Capacity: 400
Presentation Time: 50 minutes
Set-Up Time: 1 hour
Take-Down Time: 45 minutes
Presentation Area: Gym or auditorium. Large space is best!
Arrival: Please provide assistance with the microphone, sound equipment, screen and projector.
Assembly Requirements: Microphone, speakers, and an auxiliary cable. Projector and Screen. (if you don't have these, please let us know in advance) Please break up two or more assemblies by grade level: K-3, 4-6, etc.
Visually Stunning and Entertaining
John Collins is the Paper Airplane Guy. He is a keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience, as well as an author, and a world record holder for paper airplane distance. with the goal of engaging the audience and presenting great information. Students will explore science using the fun and wonder of paper airplanes.
Demonstrates a Wide Variety of Aerodynamic Principals
Lift, Drag, Gravity, Wing Loading, Control Surfaces, Dihedral Angle, Theories of Lift, Stalls, Slope Soaring, Canard Design, Scale Effects, Glide Ratio, Sink Rate, and the crazy cool secret of the world record paper airplane.
Everyone folds their own plane at the end!
It’s real aerodynamics instruction, teaching the physics of flight, demonstrated and explained using paper airplanes. It’s fun and the materials are inexpensive and readily available in most schools, because it’s only paper. The interactive school assembly includes 30 minutes of live and engaging instructional demonstrations, followed by 15 minutes of hands-on paper airplane making. Planes will streak across the room, glide gently, tumble, flap their wings, circle back, flip over, fly upside down, and spin for what seems like forever. Though forever may vary! Older students most enjoy the chance to learn how to fold the world-record airplane. Best for grades 4 and older. There is a version of the assembly available for K-3 that is appropriate for their level of developmental dexterity and fine motor skills.
Click the image above for Teacher Notes PDF
The Paper Airplane Guy Virtual Assembly was very interesting and all of our students and staff truly enjoyed the presentation. John and Whitney were extremely communicative previous to the assembly and we would highly recommend this assembly! Immediately after the assembly I called and spoke with John to let him know how wonderful the assembly was and how much our students truly enjoyed it, which was evident from the questions they had. The students are still speaking about the assembly and have a desire to make paper airplanes. Thank you so much again for being effective and communicative.
Samantha Belfon - Social Worker
PS 682
Brooklyn, NY
John engaged several classrooms of students simultaneously during our first Virtual Conference for Kids. During the two days we had over 150 classes attend different workshops. John presented to students and the students created their own paper airplanes and asked many questions. We could not have asked for a better presenter in this STEAM aligned conference. Thank you.
Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos - Administrator
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Bellport, NY
The Virtual Paper Airplane Guy was super fun. He worked well with the younger kids going slowly to ensure they understood. He was patient and entertaining. 10/10
Elizabeth Freiler - PTA VP
Oxford Preparatory Academy Honour Society
Mission Viejo, CA
Thank you so much for the virtual program today!! The students LOVED it!!!!
Pamela Kromar - PTA
Lakewood ES
Congers, NY
For the students who made the planes, testing them out later in the day was fun. Overall we enjoyed the assembly and the children were amazed by how paper planes work.
Italia Granshaw - PTA
Newbridge Road ES
North Bellmore, NY
John did a great job! He was so easy to follow when building the paper airplanes. His knowledge of the science behind the flight was fascinating, especially because he stated it in such easy to understand terms. The airplanes were fun to watch in flight and his enthusiasm was contagious. Overall, an outstanding assembly. Thank you!
Ana Gutierrez - Principal
Lakeside MS
Norwalk, CA
That was a great virtual show! The students loved making the airplanes! They also said that you were very funny. Thank you!
Helen Findlay - Art Teacher
Tamarac MS
Troy, NY
Thank you for accommodating our schedule switch and making the videos ahead of time. Our students and families loved the assembly. The students that were here even went further in their aerodynamic discovery and wanted different weighted paper to see if that changed the planes flying outcome. Great show and hope to book live in the future.
Alina Burton - Project U.P. Coordinator
Manassas Park ES
Manassas Park, VA
Thanks for a great show. The kids loved making the planes!
Andrew O'Dell - Music Teacher
Worcester Central School
Worcester, NY
John did an amazing job. The kids had lots of questions and he did a great job of taking time to answer them. We would definitely recommend him to any group! Thank you so much!
Tara Garcia - Library Media Specialist
Graden ES
Parkville, MO
The kids loved this assembly! Thanks so much for teaching the kids and making sure they had fun!
Kelly Sheppard - PTA
Our Lady of Hope Regional School
Blackwood, NJ
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We strive to bring you the very best in outstanding virtual and in-person assembly programs and camp shows. Our presenters are quality people offering fantastic shows and would love to perform for your school or camp!
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