Paper Airplane

Start with a standard rectangular sheet of paper (A4 or letter size), placed portrait orientation with the short edges at top and bottom.

Fold the paper in half lengthwise (hot dog fold), matching the long edges together. Crease firmly down the center.

Unfold back to the full rectangle. The center crease will be your guide for all remaining steps.

Fold the top right corner down to meet the center crease. The top edge should now run along the center line.

Fold the top left corner down to meet the center crease in the same way. You should have a triangle at the top.

Crease both diagonal folds firmly. The top of the paper should now look like a pointed house shape.

Fold the top right edge down to the center crease again, following the same diagonal angle.

Fold the top left edge down to the center crease in the same way. The nose is now sharper.

Crease both second folds firmly. The nose should be a tight, sharp point.

Fold the entire model in half along the original center crease, bringing the right half behind the left.

The nose point should be sharp and both halves should align perfectly.

Hold the model with the folded spine at the bottom. Fold the top layer down to meet the spine — this forms the first wing.

Crease the wing fold firmly along the full length of the airplane.

Flip the model over. Fold the second layer down the same distance to form the second wing.

Check both wings are even — hold the plane from behind and compare the wing angles.

Open the two wings out so they are flat and level, at roughly 90 degrees to the body.

Fold the tip of the right wing up slightly to form a small winglet at the end.

Fold the tip of the left wing up in the same way. Winglets help stabilize the flight path.

Look at the airplane from the front. Both wings should be symmetrical and level.

Pinch the spine at the center to hold the airplane for throwing.

Check the nose is still sharp and the two wing halves align cleanly.

For a straighter flight, adjust both wings so they angle very slightly upward.

For a faster, flatter flight, adjust both wings to perfectly horizontal.

Fold the trailing edge of each wing up slightly to act as an elevator — this helps the plane climb.

Check the elevator folds are equal on both wings.

Hold the airplane from below the spine, with your thumb and fingers on either side of the body near the center of gravity.

Your paper airplane is ready to fly. Throw with a smooth, level motion — not too hard.

If it dives, bend the trailing edges up more. If it stalls, bend them down slightly. Adjust until it glides perfectly.