You need one uncut sheet of printer paper, short edge at the top. No scissors, tape or clips. Measurements are rounded to the nearest ⅛ inch, as in the app.

moves fold line where it lands Diagrams are drawn on Letter and zoom in after the fold in half; the bar in each corner is 1 inch. Tap a diagram to watch the fold.

Fold it step by step

01
Crease down the middle
Fold the sheet in half the long way, press, and open it back up.
Every Nakamura fold lines up with this crease.
02
Fold the top corners in
Fold the top-right corner down so the top edge meets the center crease.
Just like a dart, so far.
03
And the left corner
Same on the left. You have a pointy roof.
Edges touch, but do not overlap.
04
Fold the point down
Fold the whole triangle down along its bottom edge, so the tip points at the bottom of the page.
The fold runs straight across, right where the flaps end.
05
Corners to the middle
Fold the top-right corner in so it touches the center line about 1 in (2.5 cm) above the triangle tip.Fold the top-right corner in so it touches the center line about 2.7 cm (1 in) above the triangle tip.
Leave the little tip of the triangle poking out.
06
Other corner too
Fold the left corner in to meet it.
The two corners should kiss at the center line.
07
Lock it
Fold the little triangle tip up over both corner flaps. This is the lock that holds everything together.
Press it hard: this little triangle is the lock.
08
Turn it over
Flip the paper over so the lock is underneath.
Nose stays pointing away from you.
09
Fold it in half
Fold it in half along the center crease so the lock ends up on the outside.
Line up the nose corners first.
10
Mark the tail triangle
Mark 1⅝ in (4.1 cm) forward from the back of the center fold. Make another mark ⅝ in (1.7 cm) straight across from that back end. Crease through both marks, then unfold.Mark 4.1 cm (1⅝ in) forward from the back of the center fold. Make another mark 1.7 cm (⅝ in) straight across from that back end. Crease through both marks, then unfold.
Fold the two sides together, press, then unfold. This is only a guide.
11
Reverse the tail into a fin
Open the back of the body a little. Push the small triangle between the sides and lift its point. Close the body around it.
Keep the wings out of the pocket. The small upright point is your tail fin.
12
Fold down the first wing
Fold the top layer down on a slant: 1½ in (3.8 cm) from the center fold at the nose, ¾ in (1.8 cm) from it at the tail.Fold the top layer down on a slant: 3.8 cm (1½ in) from the center fold at the nose, 1.8 cm (¾ in) from it at the tail.
The crease slants: farther from the center fold at the nose than at the tail. Measure both ends.
13
Turn it over
Flip the plane over.
Keep the nose pointing away.
14
Fold down the second wing
Fold this wing down on the same slant as the first one.
Hold the wings together. They should line up exactly.
15
Open the wings
Keep the center body pinched closed. Open both wings, then lift their tips into a shallow Y.

Check the shape

From behind: this is the view to compare with your plane.

Check the nose lock again after reversing the tail. Handling the back can loosen an earlier front fold without making it obvious.

Before you open the wings, hold the plane closed against a window: both wing outlines should cover each other. Fix an unequal wing crease before reaching for trim.

First flights

Launch: Hold the body ahead of the fin and give it a smooth, level push.

Locked nose. Check that the small lock triangle still covers both flaps after a hard landing. If it has lifted, fold it back down before the next throw rather than adding tape.
Tail fin. Grip the body ahead of the fin. Pinching the tail flattens the fin you just reversed upward. Straighten it before each throw.

If it misbehaves

Dives straight down: Release level, then bend both back edges up a hair.
Climbs, then drops: Flatten those bends a little; throw nearer level.
Always turns one way: Compare the wings first. Then bend the edge on the inside of the turn down, or the outside edge up, very slightly.

Full troubleshooting guide →

The app can fly this plane in a simulator. Its distances and paths are simulation output; this page makes no claim about how far a hand-folded Osprey will fly.

More locked noses

A small triangle folds up over two corner flaps and holds them shut. The Nakamura lock is an old origami technique; the other three add tips or a tail fin to it.