Origami is the art of paper folding from Japan. The classic origami airplane is made of a square piece of paper and consists of four parts: nose (front), body, wings and tail (back). Once you've mastered the basic design, gather your friends and have a flying competition to see how far your plane can fly or how long it can stay in the air. The world record for flying distance of a paper airplane is approximately 69 meters, and 27.9 seconds for flight time.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Classic Origami Planes
Step 1. Find a rectangular sheet of paper
If you plan to fly the plane indoors, lightweight paper like printer paper is the perfect choice. Heavy paper like origami paper or card paper is preferable if you want to fly the plane outside, especially on windy days.
Step 2. Fold the paper in half vertically
Flatten and unfold. It is important to keep the folds neat and the surface smooth to reduce drag (resistance).
Step 3. Fold the top two corners towards the center crease
Don't open this fold. At this point, your paper should form a "house" with a pointed roof and long straight sides.
Step 4. Fold the same corner again so the edges meet at the center line
Don't open this fold. Your "house" should look like a "tent" with a long, steep roof and short straight sides. Fold your "tent" in half vertically to create the fuselage.
Step 5. Fold the top of the right and left sides down so that they are parallel to the bottom of the body
At this point, you need to make sure your folds are symmetrical and sharp.
Step 6. Finish the wings by lifting the right and left sides up
The top of the wing should form a flat triangular surface. The fuselage should also be triangular in shape and extend under the wing in the center of the fuselage.
Step 7. Have fun with your paper airplane
Once you've mastered the basic origami plane, you can experiment with more sophisticated designs.
Method 2 of 3: Making Jet Origami
Step 1. Start with a square piece of origami paper or printing paper
If you don't have square strips of paper, you can make one out of rectangular paper.
Step 2. Create a horizontal valley fold (V shape)
In origami, valley folds form when you fold the paper in half so that it forms a 'V'. Unfold the paper.
Step 3. Fold the top and bottom sides to the center
You should now see three horizontal folds dividing the paper into four equal parts.
Step 4. Create vertical valley folds
Step 5. Unfold the paper, then fold the right and left sides towards the center crease
Unfold the paper and spread it out on the table. At this point, the fold should form 16 squares with a count of four horizontally and four descending.
Step 6. Fold the paper in half diagonally
Unfold.
Step 7. Fold the paper in half diagonally in opposite directions
At this point, the fold should form 16 squares with a count of four horizontally and four descending.
Step 8. Rotate the square paper 45 degrees so that it forms a diamond
Make a vertical valley fold in the left corner of your diamond. Don't open this fold. Your diamond should have three acute angles and one flat angle.
Step 9. Create a crease pattern
This pattern uses a series of valley and mountain folds along the existing folds. This link shows a diagram showing the location and type of fold.
The opposite of valley fold is mountain fold, which is when the paper is folded in an inverted "V" shape
Step 10. Fold the two sides together using a horizontal valley fold
At this point, your jet should resemble a "shoe" shape with a pointed front. Then, fold the base (longest edge) up so that it covers about 1/3 of the "shoe" part.
Step 11. Fold the top of the shoe out and over the line formed by the previous crease
This part will eventually form the wing. Repeat the fold on the opposite side.
Step 12. Rotate the origami jet 90 degrees so you are looking at the bottom
Spread the wings slowly pulling them out to the side.
Step 13. Fly your jet
Hold it near the nose so the plane is perpendicular to the ground or the nose is pointing slightly upwards. Throw the plane over the shoulder using a quick, smooth motion.
Compare the flight distance and speed of the jet with your origami airplane
Method 3 of 3: Making an Origami Glider
Step 1. Tear off a page from a used phone book or notebook
You will need to use light paper because you will be launching the glider on the airwaves and not flying it like an airplane.
Step 2. Gather all the additional ingredients
In addition to a sheet of paper, you will need the following materials:
- Scissors.
- Three metal wire ties
- Scotch Tape
- Ruler
- Pen
Step 3. Create a pattern for your glider
Here's an example.
- Using scissors, cut one of the two large triangles along the outer black line. Save the second triangle to give to friends so they can make their own origami glider.
- Cut a small indentation along the thick black line at the bottom (longest side) of both triangles.
Step 4. Glue the pattern pieces onto your paper strips
Make sure the pattern is flush with the paper and there are no wrinkles or creases. Use four pieces of tape to attach the pattern, one at each point and one in the center of the base of the triangle.
Once the pattern is pasted, cut around the outer edge of the triangle making sure the pattern stays on the paper underneath
Step 5. Make a trace along the dotted line with a pencil
The dotted line indicates where you will fold the paper. These lines are separated into two categories and labeled on the pattern:
- There are three valley folds. One line is parallel to the base, and the other two folds are at each end of the first line.
- There are three mountain folds. One fold divides the top edge of the triangle, and the other two folds parallel to the sides of the triangle.
- The pattern should be facing you at all times so that you can position yourself according to these folds.
Step 6. Use your fingers to pinch the mountain folds at the top of the triangle
Step 7. Place a ruler along the valley fold parallel to the bottom
Fold the base inward through the ruler. Gently unfold the paper so that the folds remain loose.
Step 8. Fold outward along the two mountain folds that are parallel to the sides of the triangle
Start with one side and then the other side. Keep this crease loose for now.
- Once folded outward, pinch the mountain fold at the top of the triangle.
- Flatten along the three mountain fold lines and stop at the end of the fold or at the intersection with the valley fold.
- Make sure the folds are neat and symmetrical.
Step 9. Bend the two shorter valley folds upward until they are perpendicular to the glider's fuselage
Unfold the paper slowly so that the fold remains loose.
Step 10. Pinch the tips of the wings
The tips of the wings can be bent up or down. Both wings must be facing upwards in order to fly, otherwise the plane will swoop down when thrown.
Step 11. Stabilize the plane by adding weights at the front
At this point, your plane will be heavy on the rear, which will cause it to roll back, up and forward when thrown.
Step 12. Use a cable tie to create a lever that extends from the front of the glider
- Cut a square labeled 'Front Weight Stabilizer'. Use this to make a square pattern from the same light sheet of paper you used to make the plane.
- Cut the plastic part of the cable tie until only a thin metal wire remains. You can do this by cutting lengthwise along the wire and removing any excess plastic with your fingers.
- Stick a small piece of tape (no more than 1/2 inch) on one end of the wire. Glue the wire to one corner of your square paper.
- Place this paper on top of the thick book so that the wired corner is at the edge of the book. The wire should hang out from the edge of the book and not be supported by anything.
- If it hangs down, the wire is too heavy. Use scissors to cut the wire a little at a time until it hangs just a little.
- If it is perfectly balanced, the wire may be too light. You can make it heavier by adding small pieces of tape at the end that don't stick to the paper.
Step 13. Remove the wire from the square paper
You need to attach the wire to the nose of the glider.
- Turn the plane over so the patterned side is facing down.
- Attach a small, square piece of tape (about 1/2 inch) to one end of the wire.
- Attach the wire so that it exactly follows the crease that forms the nose of the plane. Glue it so that the corners of the tape fit snugly against the front side.
- Flip the plane over and re-fold the front so that this fold supports the wire. A slight bend at each edge of the fold is still allowed. This can power the plane.
Step 14. Flatten the crease if it's too tight
The curvature of the wing is called camber, and it affects the lift of the aircraft by forming an airfoil. Folds that are too tight create too much camber, and this will destabilize the plane.
- Place the plane under the cover of the heavy book.
- Push the vertical stabilizer down so it doesn't break.
- Close the cover and press for 5 to 10 minutes.
- This step will increase the camber by creating a gentler arch.
Step 15. Adjust the elevons and vertical stabilizers as necessary
Place the plane on a flat surface and measure the angle between the surface and the back flap.
- If this angle is less than 20 degrees, increase it by bending it slightly forward.
- Check that the angles at both ends are even.
- Fold the vertical stabilizer back so that it forms a 90-degree angle with the fuselage.
- Separate the pattern from the paper if you haven't already. Bend the end of the wire upward so that it forms a small hook. Be careful not to tear the paper or damage the folds.
- Use the wire hooks to lift and carry your glider.
- Don't lift your plane from behind. This can damage the aircraft's vertical stabilizers or rear flaps, known as elevons, which are essential for turning and dives.
- Use the scissors to cut along the curved line on the back, and cut the sharp ends of the stabilizers along the thick black line.
Step 16. Launch your plane
Hold the plane in the center using your thumb and index finger. With the nose of the plane pointing slightly down, slowly drop it.
Walk behind the plane and slowly tuck a piece of cardboard that is at least 45 x 45 centimeters underneath. This will help keep your plane moving
Step 17. Done
Have fun with your plane.
Tips
- Fly your sled indoors, preferably in a large room like a gym or cafeteria.
- Focus on keeping your folds neat and the edges as sharp as possible. Of course, you want your plane to be symmetrical so that the load is balanced and it can fly smoothly.
- Hold and grab the plane by the nose. You run the risk of damaging the wings if you hold them by the tail.
- Do not bend or bend your pitch. This will cause the plane to plummet.
- Consider using recycled paper.
- Do not use torn or wrinkled paper.
- Heavier aircraft are better flown outdoors because the added weight helps reduce the effects of wind. You can increase the weight by adding paper clips to the nose or wings.
- Throw the plane by finding its center of gravity (near the nose where the creases overlap) and pinching it with your thumb and forefinger. Hold it parallel to the ground or make a slight upward angle. Throw in a smooth, straight pushing motion.
