Dictionary definition of “paper airplane”

paper airplane

n. in aeronautics and aerospace, a flying machine that is strictly theoretical. Subjects: English, Aviation, Jargon

Editorial Note: The adjectival form paper, referring to something that exists only in print or writing but not as a physical object, is fairly common. Here it connotes an actual toy-sized folded paper plane, carrying with it derogatory and jocular undertones.

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Citations: 1981 Eric Pace New York Times (July 19) “Jostling To Power Up The Next Jets” p. 3-1: The jetliner makers are just “throwing paper airplanes at each other,” Wolfgang H. Demisch, aerospace analyst at Morgan Stanley, said last week. He suggested that none of the proposed aircraft may reach the market because “the airlines currently have difficulty getting two nickels to rub together.” 1981 Richard Halloran New York Times (July 23) “Air Force Chief Calls The Stealth A ‘Paper Plane’ Far From Reality” p. 1: The Secretary of the Air Force, Verne Orr, has asserted that the Stealth plane, which Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger is seriously considering as the nation’s next long-range bomber, is “a paper airplane” that is far from development. 1985 Lawrence Ingrassia @ London, England Wall Street Journal (July 10) “Airbus Buoyed by Hefty Order Book for New Passenger Plane”: Airbus so far has failed to win over British Airways, a loyal Boeing customer. BA declined to place an order for A-320s two years ago, saying it didn’t want to order a “paper” airplane. 1999 M2 Presswire (Nov. 8) “X-43 hypersonic flight research vehicle delivered”: The world’s first hypersonic air-breathing free-flight vehicle is no longer just a paper airplane. 2000 James Wallace Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Jan. 10) “Boeing, Airbus Battling Over Biggest Commercial Jet Ever” p. C1: So far, it’s only a paper airplane. But the Airbus A3XX has already generated a war of words commensurate with its size on both sides of the Atlantic between Boeing and its archrival. 2004 Bob Cox Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) (July 21) “Boeing officials report solid base of commitments to launch 7E7 Dreamliner”: The much-touted Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner is still just a paper airplane, but that’s likely to change soon. 2005 Dave Brooks Nashua Telegraph (N.H.) (Apr. 6) “Founder of firm creating ‘cheap’ jet to speak at DWC”: Aviation has a long history of what people call “paper airplanes"—some guy comes along who’s going to build a new plane that goes 1,000 miles an hour and only costs $200 to fly, and he raises money and is never heard from again.

Posted 7 Apr 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend