Join in · Craft & experiment

Your first plane

Few folds and broad wings: start here.

Easy · 6 picture steps

You need one A4 sheet of ordinary printer paper and a ruler. No scissors needed.

Download folding guide as PDF

Watch the slow folding animation →

Let’s fold

  1. Step 1

    Find the middle

    1. Before
    Before: Find the middle
    2. Fold
    Fold: Find the middle
    3. After
    After: Find the middle

    Fold, press flat, then reopen.

    Place A4 upright. Fold lengthwise in half, then reopen.

  2. Step 2

    Corners to the middle

    1. Before
    Before: Corners to the middle
    2. Fold
    Fold: Corners to the middle
    3. After
    After: Corners to the middle

    Fold both top corners to the centre crease.

  3. Step 3

    Fold in half

    1. Before
    Before: Fold in half
    2. Fold
    Fold: Fold in half
    3. After
    After: Fold in half

    Close lengthwise. The folded corners stay inside.

  4. Step 4

    First wing

    1. Before
    Before: First wing
    2. Fold
    Fold: First wingGrip: 2 cm
    3. After
    After: First wing

    Only the top wing is folded. The second wing is still unfolded underneath.

    Lay the plane on its side. At the bottom, measure 2 cm out from the closed centre fold. Fold the upper half, including all its paper layers, down along a parallel line; the 2 cm strip stays as the grip.

  5. Step 5

    Second wing

    1. Before
    Before: Second wing
    2. Fold
    Fold: Second wingGrip: 2 cm
    3. After
    After: Second wing

    Turn over first: the unfolded side faces up. The first wing stays underneath.

    Turn the paper over like a book page. Fold the other wing to match.

  6. Step 6

    Open the wings

    1. Before
    After: Second wing
    2. Open
    After: Second wing
    3. After
    After

    Open both wings; keep the narrow grip closed.

    Open both wings. Hold underneath; launch gently forward.

Help with folding

Upright means the short edges are at the top and bottom. The centre crease is the long fold in the middle. The grip is the narrow part underneath the wings. Measure it sideways from the closed centre fold. Parallel means the new line stays the same distance from the centre fold all the way along. Press creases flat with your finger.

Folding principle checked against: NASA: Wingin’ It – Basic, Dart und X-Plane. Our own simplified drawings and text.

Compare three flights →