How to Build a Toy Airplane That Flies

Fold a piece of paper in half the long way. Fold it over again the same way (in half), but leave an inch edge sticking out from the original layer. Do this again with the second layer being left a centimeter of protrusion. Repeat the process again with at least 2 centimeters exposed from the previous layer. Slip the two popsicle sticks in behind the leading (thick edge) of the paper, and glue it in place underneath a layer of paper so that the two popsicle sticks meet at the center of the wing being made. Glue each layer of paper in place with the smallest amount of glue possible. Slightly bend the wing where the two popsicle sticks meet.

Repeat the wing making process with a tail wing section that has no popsicle sticks in it, but is otherwise identical. Trim the back set of wings to be 4 inches wide.

Bend a section of coat hanger that is 12 inches long so that the tip curves inwards at a radius of a pinky finger to form a half circle on one end. Use needle-nose piers to do the bending. On the tip of this new bend, make a sharp bend in the opposite direction. The newest, or "sharp" bend should be the radius of a paperclip. At the other end of the hanger, make a loop that is perpendicular to the length of the wire and that closes completely. Make sure that this loop sticks out since this is the location where the propeller is to be located and needs good clearance.

Carve a popsicle stick into a propeller. Drill a hole in the center of the popsicle stick that is the diameter of a paperclip with the tip of an Exacto knife. Shave alternating edges on one side of the stick, making an edge on half of the stick to the left or right of the center hole. Flip over the popsicle stick and do the same thing to the other side, but with the previously unaltered edges (i.e. not shaved on the other side).

Straighten a paperclip, and insert it through the propeller. Bend the end on one side, and then (with the newly bent section) bend it again at the two-thirds mark to form a "T" shape where one side of the "T" is doubled over. The top of the "T" should face the front. At the bottom of the "T" that sticks through the popsicle stick, bend a "J" as a hook for the rubber band. Insert the end of this J through the loop at the front of the clothes hanger, and slip the rubber band loop over the hook. Slip the other end of the rubber band on the small loop at the opposite end of the coat hanger.

Glue the tail on at the spine of the coat hanger to make the back of the plane. Make sure that the thick edge is facing forwards. If you are unsure of which side to leave up, drop the paper with the thick edge down and see what direction it curves. Make this direction the top of the tail section with the slight bend in the middle pointing down in a "V" shape. Find the balance point of the airplane by balancing it sideways in a fingertip. Mark this location with a marker. Do the same thing with the wing to find the front-to-back edge balance point of the wing. Match up both balance points, and glue the wings on the hanger.

Twist the propeller until the rubber band has enough stored energy to spin the propeller and give the airplane a gentle toss as you let go of the propeller.