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Fold & tape

The Bird Paper Airplane

Fold a reinforced nose, measure two wing roots, then shape the wings into matching zigzags. A small piece of tape holds the nose together.

Preparation + 27 numbered steps

Materials

US Letter, portrait · 8.5 × 11 inches

One flexible 8½ × 11-inch Letter sheet, a ruler marked in inches and centimeters, pencil and a small piece of tape. The sheet stays uncut. This guide uses Letter proportions, not A4.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
The Bird paper airplane with a shortened layered nose, narrow body and two raised accordion wings
Layered nose and accordion-shaped wings

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Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet; darker shades show reverse faces. Orange highlights moving packets and hinges. Gray at the finished nose is separate tape, not paper. Panel boundaries are not all new creases.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet; darker shades show reverse faces. Orange highlights moving packets and hinges. Gray at the finished nose is separate tape, not paper. Panel boundaries are not all new creases.

  1. 0. Prepare the rectangle
  2. 1. Crease the first diagonal
  3. 2. Reopen the first diagonal
  4. 3. Crease the other diagonal
  5. 4. Reopen the second diagonal
  6. 5. Crease across the X
  7. 6. Open the horizontal guide
  8. 7. Fold the top edge to the guide
  9. 8. Double the top band
  10. 9. Narrow the right side
  11. 10. Narrow the left side
  12. 11. Bring in the right leading edge
  13. 12. Bring in the left leading edge
  14. 13. Shorten the nose
  15. 14. Mark the wing roots
  16. 15. Close the center body
  17. 16. Crease the first wing
  18. 17. Crease the second wing
  19. 18. Open the first wing
  20. 19. Open the second wing
  21. 20. Mark two pleats on each wing
  22. 21. Raise the first outer wing packet
  23. 22. Return the first outer panel
  24. 23. Raise the other outer wing packet
  25. 24. Return the other outer panel
  26. 25. Hold the plane level
  27. 26. Tape the nose together
  28. 27. Check The Bird
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    PREPARATION · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Prepare the rectangle

    Place a short edge at the top. Keep that end as the nose throughout the first folds.

    Layers: One whole Letter sheet.

    Check: The sheet measures 8½ × 11 inches.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 1 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Crease the first diagonal

    Bring the top edge onto the left long edge, keeping the upper-left corner fixed.

    Layers: Move the large upper-right triangle.

    Check: The upper-right corner reaches the left edge 8½ inches below the top.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 2 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Reopen the first diagonal

    Open the triangle completely onto the table.

    Layers: Return the same packet.

    Check: The full rectangle is flat.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 3 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Crease the other diagonal

    Bring the top edge onto the right long edge, keeping the upper-right corner fixed.

    Layers: Move the upper-left triangle.

    Check: The guides cross 4¼ inches below the top.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 4 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Reopen the second diagonal

    Unfold completely. Find the crossing of the two guides.

    Layers: Return the upper-left triangle.

    Check: An X crosses the upper square.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 5 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Crease across the X

    Fold the upper section down on a horizontal line through the X crossing.

    Layers: Move everything above that line.

    Check: The crease is 4¼ inches below the original top edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 6 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Open the horizontal guide

    Unfold the upper section flat again.

    Layers: Undo only the last fold.

    Check: You have an X and one horizontal guide.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 7 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Fold the top edge to the guide

    Bring the top raw edge down onto the horizontal guide. Press the new fold halfway between them.

    Layers: Move the upper strip.

    Check: The raw edge lies exactly on the guide.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 8 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Double the top band

    Fold the entire upper band down again along the horizontal guide.

    Layers: Carry both layers of the band with the paper beneath them.

    Check: A layered band lies across the front.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 9 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Narrow the right side

    Fold the upper right side edge inward to the diagonal guide below it. Keep the point where the diagonal meets the right edge fixed.

    Layers: Move the whole side packet, including the folded band.

    Check: The raw side edge follows the diagonal.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 10 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Narrow the left side

    Repeat on the left, matching the opposite guide.

    Layers: Carry all layers on that side; keep the right packet still.

    Check: Both sides have matching sloping folds.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 11 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Bring in the right leading edge

    Fold the complete upper-right packet inward along the original diagonal guide.

    Layers: Move every layer above that diagonal.

    Check: The short top edge turns onto the centerline.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 12 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Bring in the left leading edge

    Fold the matching upper-left packet along its original diagonal.

    Layers: Carry the full packet without lifting the right side.

    Check: A pointed nose sits above the junction of the two flap edges.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 13 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Shorten the nose

    Bring the pointed tip down to the central junction of the two flap edges. Press the horizontal crease halfway to that junction, about 1¼ inches below the point.

    Layers: Fold the complete multilayer tip.

    Check: The tip touches the junction; the new top is a short straight edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldROOTS: 1.6 cm TOP / 1 in TAIL

    STEP 14 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Mark the wing roots

    On the short top edge, mark 1.6 cm to each side of center. At the tail, mark 1 inch to each side of center. Connect each top mark to the tail mark on the same side.

    Layers: Mark the exposed surface; do not cut.

    Check: Two slightly sloping lines surround the center body.

    Explore this step ↑
  16. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 15 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Close the center body

    Fold the left half over the right along the lengthwise centerline, bringing the reinforced faces together inside.

    Layers: Move the complete left half.

    Check: The two outlines match and the center body is closed.

    Explore this step ↑
  17. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 16 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Crease the first wing

    Fold the first wing outward along its measured root line. Press it flat against the outside of the body.

    Layers: Move every layer of the original left wing, not the other half.

    Check: The hinge joins the top 1.6 cm mark and the tail 1 inch mark.

    Explore this step ↑
  18. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 17 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Crease the second wing

    Access the other side and fold its wing outward along the matching root line.

    Layers: Only the original right wing packet moves.

    Check: Both roots have matching measured endpoints.

    Explore this step ↑
  19. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 18 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Open the first wing

    Hold the center body closed and reopen the first wing to a right angle from the body.

    Layers: Lift the saved first wing packet.

    Check: The wing extends away from one side of the body.

    Explore this step ↑
  20. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold

    STEP 19 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Open the second wing

    Open the second wing by the same amount on the other side.

    Layers: Keep the body crease shut.

    Check: Both wings extend to opposite sides.

    Explore this step ↑
  21. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPLEATS: 3.1 cm TOP / 1 in TAIL

    STEP 20 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Mark two pleats on each wing

    Starting at each outer corner of the shortened nose, measure 3.1 cm along the sloping leading edge, then another 3.1 cm. Along the tail, measure 1 inch outward from the root line, then another 1 inch. Join the nearer pair of marks, then the farther pair. Support each wing flat while marking.

    Layers: Each line crosses the full layered wing packet.

    Check: Each wing has two lines; their top marks are measured along the slope, not horizontally.

    Explore this step ↑
  22. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldALTERNATING WING PLEATS

    STEP 21 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Raise the first outer wing packet

    On the first wing, fold upward along the inner of the two new lines. Carry the outer section with it. Open the crease into a sloping riser; the diagram shows 60°.

    Layers: The whole outboard packet moves, including its folded leading edge.

    Check: The outer wing is raised above the broad inner wing.

    Explore this step ↑
  23. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldALTERNATING WING PLEATS

    STEP 22 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Return the first outer panel

    Fold the far outer panel in the opposite direction along the second line. Keep the first pleat bent. The diagram shows a 60° return.

    Layers: Only the panel beyond the second line moves; its hinge travels with the first pleat.

    Check: The wing now has a broad inner panel, a riser and an outer panel.

    Explore this step ↑
  24. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldALTERNATING WING PLEATS

    STEP 23 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Raise the other outer wing packet

    Repeat the upward inner pleat on the other wing. Match the first side.

    Layers: Carry the entire outboard packet.

    Check: Both risers tilt upward by the same amount.

    Explore this step ↑
  25. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldALTERNATING WING PLEATS

    STEP 24 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Return the other outer panel

    Fold the far outer panel back in the opposite direction, matching the first wing.

    Layers: Move all layers beyond the second pleat line.

    Check: The two accordion wing profiles are symmetrical.

    Explore this step ↑
  26. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldALTERNATING WING PLEATS

    STEP 25 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Hold the plane level

    Rotate the whole plane so the center body hangs below the wings. This is handling, not a new crease.

    Layers: Move the whole connected sheet.

    Check: The nose is at the front and both outer wing panels are raised.

    Explore this step ↑
  27. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTAPE BOTH BODY FACESGRAY: SEPARATE NOSE TAPE

    STEP 26 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Tape the nose together

    Hold the center body closed. Wrap a small strip of tape around the front nose edge so it grips both outside faces. Keep it clear of the wing hinges.

    Layers: Add separate tape; no paper moves in this diagram.

    Check: The gray strip indicates tape joining the two nose halves.

    Explore this step ↑
  28. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldGRAY: SEPARATE NOSE TAPE

    STEP 27 · The Bird · Fold’N Fly 32

    Check The Bird

    Look from the front and compare the two wing profiles. Match the root openings and alternating pleats. Keep the nose taped together.

    Layers: One uncut sheet forms the plane; tape secures the nose.

    Check: The Bird is complete. The illustrated angles are open shaping settings, not a flight-performance promise.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Fold’N Fly (instructional reference; model designer unestablished), The Bird (undated).

Fourteen-step photograph sequence ↗ · Source video ↗

The design is not labeled traditional or public domain; its designer and design-reuse license are unestablished. Reference photos, video and text have separate rights. Our English instructions, geometric diagrams and code are independently authored with AI assistance. No reference media, wording or paid template is reproduced.

Adaptation: This is The Bird from Fold’N Fly 32, not the cut-and-assembled Paper Bird. We use portrait Letter and split paired folds into separate teaching actions. The nose tip lands at the junction of the two folded leading-edge packets, giving a setback of about 1.245 inches; the source shows this landing without a numeric setback. Root marks retain the source’s 1.6 cm top and 1 inch tail values; pleat marks retain 3.1 cm along the sloping leading edges and 1 inch along the tail. The source rounds 1 inch to 2.5 cm; this guide uses the pictured inch marks at the tail. Each opened wing is shown 90° from the body. The alternating wing pleats are shown at 60° and −60°, authored open-display settings rather than source-specified angles. Marking is shown on the reopened wing panels without flattening the center body again. The final gray tape is a schematic separate strip wrapped around the nose edge; its width, thickness and adhesion are not simulated.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility.