How To Fold The Sea Gull Paper Airplane

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start with a sheet of medium weight letter size paper. Fold down the upper left corner so the right upper left point hits the paper's right edge. When folded correctly, the top edge will line up with the paper's right edge. Unfold after the crease has been made.

2. Fold the upper right corner so the upper right point hits the paper's left edge. When folded correctly, the top edge will line up exactly with the paper's left edge. Unfold after the crease has been made.

3. Flip the paper over, keeping the diagonal creases towards the top.

4. Fold the upper left and right points down so they hit the points created by the diagonal creases at the edges of the paper. When folded correctly, the new crease should go through the center point formed by the diagonal crease. Unfold after the crease has been made.

5. Fold the paper exactly in half along its long edges. Unfold after the crease has been made.

6. Pop the left and right horizontal creases up and bring them in towards the middle. The two triangular flaps should lay flat against the plane's main body and a new flap should stick straight up out of the plane's main body.

7. Split the two layers of the flap, which is standing up, apart, bringing the points at the rear of the flaps towards the edges of the paper. Bring the point at the top, where the two flaps meet, straight down to the center line crease.

8. Fold the top-most left triangular flap over so the left point hits the right point of the opposite side triangle.

9. Make a crease so the right point of the triangle hits the point at the tip of the nose. When folded correctly, the bottom edge of the triangle shoul dline up with the center line crease.

10. Fold the newly created triangle over so the right point hits the left diagonal edge of the paper.

11. Fold the large triangle over so the right point hits the left point of the opposite side triangle. The small triangle on the left side should be underneath the larger triangle.

12. Make a crease so the left point of the triangle hist the point at the tip of the nose. When folded correctly, the bottom edge of the triangle should line up with the center crease.

13. Fold the top-most triangle over to the right so the left point hits the right diagonal edge of the paper. One small triangle should be on each side now.

14. Make a crease to fold the nose down so the point at the tip of the nose hits the center line crease. The new crease should be about two finger widths down from the point at the tip of the nose.

15. Fold the left point of the top-most triangle over so the left point hits the center line crease at the top of the edge of the paper. When folded correctly, the right edge of the triangle should line up with the center line crease. Unfold after the crease has been made.

16. Fold the right point of the small top-most triangle over so the right point hits the center line crease at the top edge of the paper. When folded correctly, the left edge of the triangle will line up with the center line crease. Unfold after the crease has been made.

17. Rotate the plane around, keeping the nose up and to the right.

18. Open up the first two layers of the small triangle at the top of the nose to forma a pocket. The pocket is exaggerated in the video to illustrate the fold; the opening will only be about half a finger width high.

19. Fold the right point of the triangle under the one with the pocket over so it hits the nearest diagonal crease. When folded correctly, the left edge should line up with the crease. Tuck the flap and triangle into the pocket. Press the flap down and flat the inside of the pocket.

20. Close the pocket and press flat down on top of the tucked in flap. When folded correctly, the tucked in flap should fit snugly into the pocket.

21. Rotate the plane around so the nose is pointing up and to the left.

22. Open up the first two layers of the small triangle at the top of the nose to form a pocket. The pocket is exaggerated here to illustrate the fold; the pocket will only be about half a finger width high.

23. Fold the left point of the triangle under the one with the pocket over so it hits the nearest diagonal crease. When folded correctly, the right edge should line up with the crease. Tuck the flap and triangle into the pocket. Press the flap down and flat inside the pocket.

24. Close the pocket and press flat down on top of the tucked flap. When folded correctly, the tucked in flap should fit snugly into the pocket.

25. Flip the plane over and rotate it around so the flaps just created are underneath and the nose points to the right.

26. Make a crease to create a vertical stabilizer on the wing tip. The left point of the crease should be at the upper left corner of the wing and the right point should be at the left side of the nose.

27. Fold the plane in half about the existing center line crease. Be sure to line up the wing flaps for good balance.

28. Open up the wing flaps and vertical stabilizers. Set the dihedral angle flat or slightly up. Set the vertical stabilizers so they are about 45 degrees to the plane of the wings. Set no elevators or the craft will stall.

THE THROW - Launch with a soft to medium throw by gripping the underside of the nose. This craft flies best when launched level or at a slight up angle from a high place. A true glider that will go long distances, it can be a bit temperamental.