Follow these airplane drawing step by step instructions. Go slowly, and remember your airplane does not need to be perfect. Real airplanes are made by engineers with computers, but your drawing is made with your own hands, and that is something special. Every line you draw helps your hand get steadier and more confident.
Step 1: Draw the Top of the Body
Start by drawing a long, gently curved line across the middle of your paper. This smooth arc will become the top of your airplane’s body. Keep it wide and shallow so your airplane looks sleek and fast.
Step 2: Draw the Bottom of the Body
From the nose, draw another curved line going back to the right to form the bottom of the body. The body should be wider in the middle and narrower toward the tail end, giving the airplane its classic tube shape.
Step 3: Draw the Nose
At the left end of your curved line, draw a smooth rounded nose shape. The front of an airplane is gently tapered to help it cut through the air. Make the nose soft and rounded, not sharp and pointed.
Step 4: Draw the Tail Fin
At the back of the body, draw a tall triangular fin pointing upward. This is the vertical tail fin, and it helps the airplane steer left and right when flying. Make it tall and strong.
Step 5: Draw the Horizontal Tail Wings
On each side of the tail, draw two small wings that point outward. These are called the horizontal stabilizers, and they help the airplane fly level and steady. They should be much smaller than the main wings.
Step 6: Draw the Main Wing
Below the body, draw one large wing that sweeps back at an angle. The main wings of an airplane are wide and long, because they do the most important job of all — lifting the airplane up into the sky!
Step 7: Draw the Cockpit
Near the front of the body, draw a curved window shape for the cockpit. This is where the pilot sits and controls the airplane. Make it a smooth rounded rectangle that fits neatly into the top front of the body.
Step 8: Add the Passenger Windows
Along the side of the body, draw a row of small round or oval windows. These are the passenger windows where people sitting inside the airplane can look out and see the clouds and the world below. Keep them evenly spaced and about the same size.
Step 9: Draw the Engine
Under one of the main wings, draw a rounded oval shape for the engine. This is the jet engine that pushes the airplane through the air at high speed. Add a small curved line at the front for the engine inlet opening.
Step 10: Add the Landing Gear
Below the body and wings, draw small rounded wheel shapes for the landing gear. Airplanes use their wheels to take off and land on the runway. The wheels tuck up inside the plane when it is flying high.
Step 12: Add Wing Details
On the wings and body, draw a few curved lines to show the different sections of the airplane. These panel lines give your drawing depth and make it look more like a real aircraft.
Step 13: Draw the Clouds
Around the airplane, draw two or three fluffy clouds made of overlapping bumpy circles. Clouds give your drawing a sense of height and show that the airplane is up in the sky where it belongs. Make them soft and rounded like puffs of cotton.
Step 14: Add Final Details
Go around your drawing and add any final small details, such as a line along the bottom of the body or extra curves on the cockpit. Smooth out any wobbly lines and make the airplane look as neat and clean as you can.
Step 15: Trace Your Final Lines
Go over all your favorite lines with a black marker, then gently erase any leftover pencil marks. Take your time with the windows and engine details. You now have a clean, beautiful airplane outline. This also makes a great airplane coloring page all on its own!
Step 16: Color Your Airplane
Now for the best part: coloring! Color the sky a bright blue for the background, and make the airplane white and light blue with dark navy blue for the wings and tail. Add a little shading under the wings to make them look three-dimensional. Color the windows dark blue and the engine a metallic gray. Your airplane is finished and ready to fly. It is your art, so use any colors you love!
Start Drawing Your Airplane Today
Drawing an airplane is easy when you break it into small steps. Start with a smooth body, add the wings and tail, draw the cockpit and windows, then finish with clouds and bright color. Before you know it, you will have a beautiful airplane soaring across your page!
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