How to Build a Finger Glider

Gliders fly best after catching air currents and riding them back down to the ground. You can build your own glider that launches easily and flies well. In fact, you only need two fingers to get this glider into the air.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make three separate gliders from one standard sheet of paper by first folding the sheet into three equal sections at its width. The length of each of the three sections should measure 8 1/2 inches. Cut along these folds to get three separate pieces of paper.
2. Fold the long end of one sheet of paper down 1/2 inch and crease it into place. Repeat this fold three more times on the same sheet and keep the folds as even and tight as you can.
3. Turn the folded sheet of paper over onto its other side. Fold it in half, bringing the shorter ends of the paper together.
4. Snip a cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long into the folded sheet of paper at the short end opposite the stacked fold. Bring the tips of the cut portions up by folding the ends in toward the midline of the paper after you unfold the paper to reveal a crease at the middle of the glider.
5. Launch your glider by holding it between the extended first and second finger of your hand. Hold these fingers apart like an open pair of scissors and rest the glider on them at the center crease. Keep the stacked fold as the front and the snipped wing tips as the back of your glider.

Tips & Warnings

• You can increase the lift on your glider by bringing the back edge of the wings up slightly.