How to Fold the Ballista Paper Airplane
Fold a high-performance, long-distance paper airplane with locked internal layers and balanced aerodynamic dihedral wings.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Bone folder
- ✓ Flat working surface
- ✓ Ruler
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Standard 8.5x11 inch printer paper (20-24 lb)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Keep fingers flat during scoring to avoid paper cuts.
- • Do not aim the finished paper airplane at eyes or faces when throwing.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (7 Steps)
Establish the Center Crease
Place the paper vertically in portrait orientation on your flat surface. Fold the left edge directly over to meet the right edge, ensuring the corners line up perfectly. Press down firmly and run your bone folder along the spine to create a sharp center crease, then unfold the sheet flat.
- • A sharp, distinct vertical crease line running straight down the exact center of the page.
- • Misaligning the top or bottom corners before creasing.
Fold the Top Corners to the Center
Fold the top left corner down so that its top edge lies flush along the vertical center crease. Repeat the process with the top right corner so both sides meet symmetrically at the center line. Firmly crease both diagonal edges.
- • A clean triangular point at the top center with both folded flaps touching along the middle crease without overlapping.
- • Overlapping the two diagonal flaps across the center line.
Fold the Top Triangle Down
Take the top apex point and fold it downward along the horizontal baseline formed by the bottom of the folded flaps. The point should rest squarely along the center vertical crease, pointing directly toward the bottom edge. Crease the horizontal top edge sharply.
- • An envelope-like shape with an inverted triangle centered on the lower sheet.
- • Folding the point off-center, skewing the horizontal fold.
Fold Secondary Diagonal Flaps
Take the new top-left diagonal edge and fold it in toward the center crease, leaving about 1 inch between the tip of the fold and the bottom of the inverted triangle. Repeat symmetrically on the right side. Both new folded flaps should meet or align near the center line.
- • Two symmetrical diagonal flaps folded over the top section, exposing a small triangular tab underneath at the center.
- • Asymmetrical fold angles between left and right sides.
Lock the Nose with the Center Tab
Fold the small exposed triangular tip pointing down from underneath up over the two angled flaps you just created. Crease this small tab tightly over the flaps to lock the nose layers securely in place.
- • A small upward-pointing triangle clamping the two diagonal side flaps flat against the plane.
- • Folding the locking tab too loosely, allowing the inner flaps to slide out.
Fold the Fuselage in Half
Flip the plane so the smooth side is down and fold the entire airplane in half along the original center crease. Ensure the locking tab and folded layers remain on the outside of the fuselage. Squeeze the thick nose section firmly together.
- • A slim, symmetrical profile folded in half with all locking layers visible on the outside bottom keel.
- • Folding inward (mountain fold) which hides the locking tab and destabilizes the plane.
Fold the Wings and Set Dihedral Angle
Fold down the top wing layer starting from a point slightly above the front tip down to the rear corner, keeping the fold line parallel to the bottom fuselage edge. Flip the plane over and fold the second wing to match the first identically. Unfold both wings slightly so they form a slight 'Y' shape (positive dihedral angle) when viewed from the back.
- • Even, symmetrical wings angled slightly upward relative to the fuselage, forming a shallow upward 'V' or 'Y' angle from the rear view.
- • Making the wing folds at different heights on either side, or letting the wings droop downward (negative dihedral).
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Foldable Flight — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Bone folder? Smooth plastic ruler, back of a butter knife, or fingernail