How to Make Classic Paper Airplanes

Fold a classic paper airplane in five folds.

The simplest paper airplane to make is a classic paper airplane, also known as the dart, which only uses five folds. The process takes less than two minutes to complete. Any-sized piece of paper works to make the classic paper airplane, or recycle a used piece of paper to help the planet go green.

Things You'll Need

• 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper

Instructions

1. Place an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of paper on a flat work surface so the long edges are along the horizontal axis.

2. Match the bottom edge to the top edge. Crease firmly along the fold line.

3. Fold the top layer of the right-hand corner down to the folded edge to create a triangle. The right edge of the paper will line up with the folded edge. Crease firmly along the fold line.

4. Fold the angled edge created in Step 3, and line it up with the folded bottom edge. Crease along the fold line. Repeat the process one more time.

5. Flip the paper over. Position the paper so the fold line is along the bottom edge. The previous folds will now point to the left.

6. Fold the top layer of the left-hand corner down to the folded edge to create a triangle. The left edge of the paper will line up with the folded edge. Crease firmly along the fold line.

7. Fold the angled edge created in Step 6, and line it up with the folded bottom edge. Crease along the fold line. Repeat the process one more time.

8. Pick up the classic paper airplane along the fold line. This is the body of the paper airplane.

9. Lift the two flaps laying against the body so they are at a 90-degree angle to the main body of the paper airplane. These are the wings.