How to Make a Paper Glider That Floats

Paper airplanes can be made in many shapes, sizes and colors.

Origami is the art of folding paper into various designs and shapes. The exact origins of origami are not known but it is thought that it may have been invented in China and then refined by Japan. According to The Paper and Plane Company, paper airplane models were first described in magazines around 1908. Paper toys and models became very popular during the World War II. Today people all over the world make paper airplanes of varying designs and complexity.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Piece of A4 size paper (8 1/2 by 11 inches)

Instructions

1. Start with the paper laying flat in front of you with the short side toward you. Fold the left side to the right side to make a crease down the center. Unfold.

2. Fold the bottom left corner toward the center at about a 120-degree angle so that the top corner of the triangle on the left side is about 3/4 of the way up the paper, the bottom corner pointing toward you is on the center line, and the right corner of the triangle is about 1/4 of the way up the page, about 2 inches over the center line.

3. Fold the bottom right corner at about a 60-degree angle toward the center line. The top corners of the two triangles should both be about 3/4 of the way up the paper. The right side should overlap the left side so there is about a 1/2-inch flap on the left side.

4. Fold the flap (formed from folding over the right side), underneath to secure the right side down.

5. Turn the paper over and fold the bottom triangle (the nose of the plane) up so that there is about 2 inches remaining between the tip of the nose and the edge of the paper.

6. Fold the paper in half by bringing the left side over to the right side. Turn the paper so that the crease is on the bottom and the nose is pointing to the right.

7. Fold down the top of the wing to form a long triangle along the top that ends about 1.5 inches from the nose. The left corner of the triangle should start at the top edge of the paper. The thickest part of this triangle should be about 3/4 of an inch.

8. Fold the wing down an inch from the bottom so that the smaller triangle you formed in Step 7 is on the bottom of the plane.

9. Flip the plane over and repeat Step 7 and 8 to form the wing on the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• To fly the plane hold the base with the nose pointing forward, aim and throw.

• Children should be supervised while making any craft.

References

• "Origami Kit For Dummies"; Nick Robinson; 2008
• The Paper Airplane Company: The History of Paper Model Airplanes