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How to Make a Foil Paper Plane

Along with chewing gum and spitballs, the paper airplane is a perennial symbol of classroom disruption. However, this denizen of detention halls can actually teach students a great deal about design, measurement and aerodynamics. The only problem is that traditional models made from ruled notebook paper are flimsy and fly in unpredictable patterns. You can easily resolve these issues by crafting your plane with aluminum foil.

Things You'll Need

Ruler
Scissors
Pencil with a dull point
Aluminum foil

Instructions

- 1
  Use a ruler and scissors to measure and cut out an 8 1/2-inch by 8 1/2-inch square of aluminum foil.
- 2
  Fold the foil in half, and then unfold it to make a crease in the center of the square. Turn the foil so that the crease is vertically oriented.
- 3
  Make a light mark in the center of the left side of the foil. Use the ruler and a dull pencil to draw a line connecting the mark with the crease at the top edge of the foil square. Fold the left corner in to the center crease along the pencil line. This will create a triangular flap. Repeat this process for the right side of the foil.
- 4
  Fold the foil in half, with the triangular flaps on the inside. This will create a basic paper plane form. Position the plane so that the pointed end faces your left hand.
- 5
  Make a light pencil mark on right edge of the foil, 3/4-inch from the top corner. With the ruler and the dull pencil, draw a line connecting this mark to the point on the far left hand side of the plane. Fold the top edge of the foil down to the bottom edge along this line. Flip the paper over and repeat the process.
- 6
  Reposition the plane so that the pointed end faces your left hand. Make a light pencil mark on right edge of the foil, 1 1/4-inch from the bottom corner. Use the ruler and the pencil to draw a line connecting this mark to the point on the far left hand side of the plane. Fold the top edge of the foil down to the bottom edge along this line. Flip the paper over and repeat the process.
- 7
  Flatten out the flaps made in step six to create the wings of your foil paper plane.

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