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.
This is your guide line.
02
Fold the top corners in
Bring the top-right corner down so the top edge lies on the center crease.
Edges meet exactly on the crease.
03
And the left corner
Same thing on the left.
Now it looks like a house.
04
Fold the nose down
Fold the tip of the nose down 1½ in (3.8 cm) so it is blunt.Fold the tip of the nose down 3.8 cm (1½ in) so it is blunt.
This makes a blunt nose instead of a sharp point.
05
Fold the top corners in
Fold the top-right corner down so the top edge lies along the center crease.
This stacks extra layers at the front.
06
And the left corner
Same on the left: a pointed nose.
The two edges meet on the crease.
07
Fold it in half
Fold in half along the crease with the flaps inside.
Press from nose to tail.
08
Fold down the first wing
Fold the top layer down on a slant: 3 in (7.6 cm) from the center fold at the nose, ½ in (1.3 cm) from it at the tail.Fold the top layer down on a slant: 7.6 cm (3 in) from the center fold at the nose, 1.3 cm (½ in) from it at the tail.
The crease slants: farther from the center fold at the nose than at the tail. Measure both ends.
09
Fold the wingtip back
Fold the tip of this wing back over, ⅝ in (1.5 cm) in from its edge.Fold the tip of this wing back over, 1.5 cm (⅝ in) in from its edge.
This becomes a winglet.
10
Turn it over
Flip the plane over.
Nose pointing away.
11
Fold down the second wing
Fold this wing down on the same slant as the first one.
Compare the wings: an unequal pair is the usual cause of a turn.
12
Fold the other tip back
Fold this wingtip back the same amount.
Both winglets the same size.
13
Open the wings and stand the tips up
Open the wings flat, then stand both wingtips straight up.

Check the shape

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

Check where each tip crease meets the back edge. Matching that location is more reliable than guessing from the opened plane alone.

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 it under the body and let it go gently, nose just above level.

Upright winglets. Hold the body, not a tip. After each landing, stand both winglets back to the same height.

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 Stingray will fly.