Glowing Paper Airplane

Make a glowing paper airplane!

Electricity is dangerous! Read this caution.

Materials: One airplane template, transparent tape, copper tape (or aluminum foil), one or two LEDs, one paperclip, and one 3V watch battery.

The airplane template (8.5 X 11 inches) is placed template-side down on a table.

Turn template over so blank side is facing up.

The template is folded in half length-wise.

Fold lengthwise (hotdog style).

The teamplate is opened again so the words and directions are face-down.

Reopen.

The top-right corner of the template is folded diagonally down to the center-fold.

Fold a corner down to the lengthwise crease.

The top-left corner is folded diagonally down to the cetner fold -- creating a point in the top-center of the template.

Fold the other corner down to the lengthwise crease.

The triangle created from the two previous folds (with top-center point) is folded down.

Fold the paper along the line that the two corner folds make (one of two pictures).

The template now has a triangle folded over a rectangle base.

Second picture.

The top-right corner of the template is folded at a diagonal to the center line so that an ~1 inch gap remains between the fold and the center line at the top of the template.

Fold the corner again but leave about an inch gap from the lengthwise crease at the top of the paper (one of two pictures).

The fold (previously described) is creased with fingers.

Second picture.

The top-left corner of the template is folded diagonally to the center line so that an ~1-inch gap remains between the top of the fold and the center line. This fold mirrors the previuos fold.

Repeat the fold with the other side of the paper (one of two pictures).

The fold (previously mentioned) is creased with fingers.

Second picture.

A triangle flap of paper at the bottom of the two previous folds is folded up (to secure the two previous folds).

Fold the flap over the point where the corner folds meet at the center crease (one of two pictures).

The triangle flap fold is depicted again.

Second picture.

The airplane template is flipped over.

Flip your airplane over (to show the template side).

With writing and directions now facing forward, the plane is folded in half along the center line (reversing the previous crease).

Fold the airplane in half on the crease.

The plane is shown with the center line folded in half.

It should look like this.

A wing is folded down. The diagonal edge of the template is folded so that it meets up with (and parallels) the center fold.

Fold one wing down so that it ends flush with the edge of the plane.

The previous fold is creased with fingers.

Crease the fold.

The plane is flipped over to the remaining unfolded wing.

Flip to the other side and repeat.

Another wing is folded down. The diagonal edge of the template is folded so that it meets up with (and parallels) the center fold.

Be sure to crease the fold.

The wings are opened and the plane is ready to fly.

You should have a plane that looks like this. Scan the remaining QR codes for further instructions (or navigate to the next page on this site).