Paper Stealth

Have you ever seen a piece of paper take flight and soar high into the sky? Introducing the Paper Stealth—a simple yet mesmerizing flying craft made entirely from a single sheet of paper and a thin thread!

To make the Paper Stealth, you will need just a few simple materials and tools:

Materials:

1. 1 sheet of A4 or A3 paper (the larger the paper, the bigger the flyer)
2. Thin sewing thread (to control the flight)

Tools:

1. Scissors or Paper cutter (for precise cuts)
2. Ruler (to measure and fold accurately)
3. Pen or Pencil (for marking)

That’s it! With just these basic supplies, you’ll be able to create an amazing flying craft.

*if you use blue colored paper you ll make it a real... STEALTH!

Before we begin folding, we need to prepare two pieces of paper.

A perfect square

A rectangular strip.

It is very easy.

Fold one corner of the paper to meet the opposite edge. This brings the short side of the paper over to one of the long sides. Line up these two edges and crease the fold. You should now have a right triangle made from the folded sheet, plus an extra rectangle of single-sheet paper.

Cut off the extra paper. Cut along the edge of the triangle to separate it from the extra paper. If you do not have scissors, fold the small rectangle over the triangle and crease well. Unfold the paper. Press down hard on the small rectangle with one hand, and on the rest of the paper with the other. Slowly move your hands apart to tear along the crease.

WE NEED BOTH PIECES OF THE PAPER!

Now, we begin folding! To make it easier, I’ve drawn the fold lines directly on the paper:

1. Dashed - dot- dashed lines (- · - · - · -) represent mountain folds (folded upwards).
2. Dashed lines (- - - - -) represent valley folds (folded downwards).

Follow the sequence of folds carefully. Sharp and precise folds will ensure the best flight performance!

The tail is a crucial part of the Paper Stealth, helping with stability and balance during flight. To make it, take the rectangular paper piece, divide it to 5 parallel rectangles and cut it into a zigzag (boustrophedon) pattern, as shown in the image.

Two ways to create the tail:

1. Zigzag cutting method: Use scissors to carefully cut along the lines in a zigzag pattern. You can follow the small scissor icons on the diagram for guidance.
2. Strip assembly method: If cutting in a zigzag is difficult, simply cut the paper into thin strips and use a tiny amount of glue to attach them together into one long strip.

Both methods will create a flexible and lightweight tail that will allow the Paper Stealth to fly smoothly.

Now, we need to make small holes in both the tail and the Paper Stealth to attach the thread properly.

1. Take the tail piece and use a pencil to mark one small hole near one end.
2. On the main Paper Stealth body, mark three small holes at the designated points.
3. Use scissors to make the holes (you can also use a sharp pencil tip) to carefully pierce through the marked spots. Be gentle to avoid tearing the paper!

Steps:

1. Cut a piece of thin sewing thread approximately 50 cm (20 inches) long for A4 sheet or 75 cm (30 inches) long for A3.
2. Thread one end through the first hole and tie a secure knot (I recommend making at least three knots to prevent slipping).
3. Repeat the same process for the second hole. Once both ends are secured, trim any excess thread.
4. Now, we need to balance the Paper Stealth:
5. Find the exact middle point of the thread connecting the two holes.
6. At this point, attach the main flying thread from a spool.
7. Make sure to use a spool with a long thread, as this craft can fly extremely high!

Now that the main structure is complete, it’s time to attach the tail. This step is best done outdoors, in an open space, to avoid tangling the tail with the main body of the Paper Stealth.

Steps:

1. Cut a piece of thread approximately 20 cm (8 inches) long.
2. Thread one end through the hole in the tail and tie a secure knot to keep it in place.
3. Take the other end of the thread and pass it through the bottom hole of the Paper Stealth.
4. Tie another secure knot, ensuring the tail hangs freely without twisting.

This attachment method allows the tail to move slightly, helping the Paper Stealth maintain stability and balance during flight.

Now comes the most exciting part—launching your Paper Stealth into the sky!

How to Fly It:

1. Find an open space with plenty of room, just like when flying a traditional kite.
2. Hold the spool and start unwinding the thread while allowing the wind to lift the Paper Stealth.
3. If there’s little wind, take a few steps backward while gently pulling the thread to help it gain altitude.
4. Once it catches the wind, let it soar higher and higher!

Tips for the Best Flight:

✔️ Choose a day with light to moderate wind for better stability.

✔️ Keep an eye on the tail to make sure it doesn’t tangle with the main thread.

✔️ Experiment with different paper sizes and tail lengths to see how it affects the flight!

Congratulations! You’ve just built and flown your very own Paper Stealth! Now, go out and enjoy watching it glide through the air!