I asked in another sub and was pointed this way.
Courtesy this thread, here are some past responses to your question:
Did people make paper airplanes before the airplane was invented? with responses from u/AshkenazeeYankee and u/svendskov
Did people fold paper into paper airplanes before the invention of the airplane?, responded to by u/svedskov
Did paper airplanes exist before the Wright Brothers?, responded to by u/cthulhushrugged