How To Fold The Willow Paper Airplane

INSTRUCTIONS

This craft looks more complex that it really is to fold. It works best with medium to heavy paper. Start with a letter size sheet.

1. Fold the upper left corner down so the upper left point hits the right edge of the paper. When folded correctly, the top edge should line up with the right edge of the paper. Unfold after the crease has been made.

2. Fold the upper right corner down so the upper right point hits the left edge of the paper. When folded correctly, the top edge should line up with the left edge of the paper. Unfold after the crease has been made.

3. Flip the paper over keeping the creases just created at the top.

4. Fold the upper left and right points down so they hit the points created by the existing creases at the lower left and right edges of the paper. When folded correctly, a new crease is made which goes through the center point created by the existing diagonal folds. Unfold after the crease has been made.

5. Flip the paper over keeping the creases just created at the top.

6. Pop the upper left and right horizontal creases up while bringing the left and right horizontal points in and down towards the center. Bring the top edge of the paper over and down and press the fold flat.

7. Bring the top-most triangular flaps up from the base to get them out of the way for the next series of folds.

8. Fold the lower outside point in and down. The left point of the crease should be at the lower left corner and the right point should be at the tip of the nose.

9. Turn the paper around so the nose points to the left. Fold the lower outside point in and down. The right point of the crease should be at the lower right corner and the left point should be at the tip of the nose.

10. Lower the top-most triangular flaps over the new folds just created.

11. Fold the tip of the nose over and down so upper point hits the horizontal crease at the center of the paper.

12. Unfold the crease just made.

13. Pop the top-most layer up bringing te left and right outside points towards the top. Bring the inner points from the triangular flaps underneath up and out creating two new creases as the fold is pressed flat.

14. Fold the top-most flap down so the top center point hits the point formed by the existing creases at the middle of the paper. Be sure that the new crease is parallel with the bottom edge of the paper.

15. Flip the paper over and rotate it around so the nose points to the left.

16. Fold the plane exactly in half about its long edge.

17. Flip the plane over so the bottom edge of the fuselage is down and the nose to the left.

18. Make a crease for the tail section. The left point of the crease should be where the existing flaps created the forward canards and the right point should be about two finger widths up from the bottom edge of the fuselage.

19. Unfold the tail section crease.

20. Opent the plane up and lay it flap on the working surface.

21. Pop the center point at the bottom edge of the paper up while fodling the paper in half again. When folded correctly, the tail section should tuck into the body of the plane.

22. Rotate the plane around so the nose points left and the fuselage is down. Make a crease for the first wing flap. The left point of the crease should be at the tip of the nose and right point should be at the lower back edge of the paper.

23. Flip the plane over keeping the nose to the left.

24. Make a crease for the second wing flap. Be sure to line up the wing flaps for good balance and flying characteristics.

25. Open up the wings flaps and adjust the wing angles so they are even. Set the dihedral angle level or slightly up. Make sure the tail is straight and even.

THE THROW - Launch with a gentle push throw. The Willow tends to float and stall if the creases are not very tight. Adjust the ends of the canards upward to counter this tendency. When trimmed well, a harder throw is possible.