F-14 Tomcat Paper Airplane

Almost everyone out there has at one time or another folded and flown paper airplanes.  That's because they are simple (most of them) and fun to fly.  This model is based on a design I got from a book that I moded.  It looks incredibly cool, and, with proper tuning, can be an excellent flier as well.  Note: Precision is a MUST.  I have made slightly slopy versions, and they do not fly well at all.  (Sorry for the bad picture quality.  I had it set to the wrong setting.  I'll be sure to use the right setting in future Instructables.)

Materials:
1 - 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper
a roll of double sided tape (optional)
1 - pair of scissors (optional)
 
Step One:
Orient sheet of paper to portrait (tall way)



 

Fold the top of the page down to the bottom of the page.

Without unfolding, fold the left side of the page to the right side.

Unfold Step Three.  There will be a line down the middle of the sheet.  Fold the left side of the paper so that the crease/edge will make a line from the bottom left corner to the top middle point.  Try to make this fold as exact as possible.  Unfold.

Repeat this with the right side of the plane.

This step is a little tricky.  Take the fold made in Step Four and make a squash fold.  For those who do not know what that is, basically take the fold from Step Four, "open" it up, and fold it down so that the left side crease (if it was still like Step Two) is aligned with the edge of the inside fold.  Repeat this for the right side using the fold from Step Five.  This must also be done with uttermost care and presicion.  (It looks like it is off in the picture. That is just the bendind of the middle due to the crease from Step Three.)

Fold the outside flaps, made in the last step, to the backside of the plane.

Open up the front flaps and fold the outside edge down to the middle.  Fold the flap back in.  Repeat with the flaps on the back.

Finally, an easy step.  Fold the plane in half following the crease and direction of the crease made in Step Three (the one you should have down the middle of the plane).

Fold both wings down.  There is a picture showing about where you should fold.

This step is the hardest one.  You can't really explain how to make the fold.  Just do what the pictures show to do.  (These ones were taken after I finished the plane.  If there are creases in the picture that are not one yours, don't worry at all.  They will come in time.  I also used the correct setting this time.  Much better pictures.

Pull up the wings and the wingletes (the little flaps you made in the last step).  Walah!  You now have your very own F-14 to fly.  If you want to, insert two small pieces of double-sided tape into middle, one  in the front and one in the back.  For those paper airplane geeks out there (not judging anyone), you can use the scissors to cut ailerons on the plane.  Note: Do not fly this plane outside.  This is an indoors only plane.  Wind severly messes up its flying.