Krones' Short Guide to Paper Airplane Flying

"A 'little' handbook," my foot! That’s quite a modest claim. The book displays a breadth and depth of detail that I’ve rarely encountered in hobby literature in recent years. Right from the first chapter, “500 Years of (Paper) Flight,” the author proves himself to be an expert in aviation and cultural history, describing where paper came from—China (which would be “normal,” so to speak, today) —then jumps right in with Leonardo da Vinci and continues all the way to the modern era. The historical overview is skillfully documented with quotes and drawings. It’s hard to believe just who has dabbled in paper airplanes: the list ranges from Leonardo da Vinci to Sir George Cayley, August Wilhelm Zachariae, Alphonse Pénaud, Buttler and Edwards, Otto Lilienthal, and the Wright brothers. The chapter concludes with a sort of “typology of the paper airplane.” In a “little flying school”—Chapter 2—once again very detailed, scientifically grounded, and yet easy to understand—the book covers balance and stability, teaches the “art of throwing,” and explains “flying outdoors” all the way to dynamic gliding

. The most extensive part of the book is then devoted to the actual folding process, beginning with the “Basics of Folding”—an introduction to the craft of paper airplane making—and followed by a vast number of models suggested for readers to fold themselves. The fifth chapter is devoted entirely to the physics of the paper airplane. “Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep it short and simple.” After all, Krone needs over sixty pages for his “brief” explanation, including all the formulas and diagrams! The author can likely afford this modesty because he is exceptionally competent in the field, which in turn is based on his extensive theoretical knowledge combined with a great deal of practical experience. The fact that a publisher today would release such a book—one that is neither spectacular nor geared toward quick gratification, but rather almost presupposes calm and deep reflection, plenty of time, and a joy in the small (and modest) things—cannot be praised highly enough.

Emil Giezendanner