Post-It Note Glider

Post-It Note Glider

 

Here's a glider that I came up with from a Post-It Note. There were two things that I was trying to accomplish: 1, to actually make a small paper airplane that flew, since folding a conventional paper airplane from a Post-It note just doesn't work, and 2, to try and make as high an aspect ratio as possible, almost a flying wing. I think I did fairly well on both counts.

A publisher liked this airplane enough to include it in a book, Post-It Notes: Ideas That Stick! (see publisher's page for a peek inside the book). It's amazing how much better they made it look, but I guess that's what graphics artists do.

 

Post-It Book Page Spread

Step 1 Step 1
Start with a square Post-It Note.
Step 2 Step 2
Fold along the indicated line, so that the sticky part gets folded to the inside.
Step 3 Step 3
Your paper should now look like this.
Step 4 Step 4
Make a crease through both layers along the line shown, but then leave the paper as shown. This crease will act as a centerline to make later folds easier.
Step 5 Step 5
Fold both layers along the indicated line. This line is about a third of the way from the flat edge to the point of the triangle.
Step 6 Step 6
Your paper should now look like this. The top flap should have the sticky part of the note. If it doesn't, just reverse your fold.
Step 7 Step 7
Fold only the top flap along the line shown. It is halfway between the two flat edges.
Step 8 Step 8
Your paper should now look like this.
Step 9 Step 9
Fold the top flap down over the front edge along the line shown.
Step 10 Step 10
Your paper should now look like this.
Step 11 Step 11
Tuck the top flap in by folding down along the line shown.
Step 12 Step 12
Your paper should now look like this. Next, bring the two wingtips together by folding up along the centerline. This will help pull all the flaps together.
Step 13 Step 13
Fold the wings down along the two lines shown. Then, flatten the glider out so that it has a profile about like that shown in the lower part of the diagram. To fly it, hold it level by the tail (the flap sticking out the back) and give it a slight push forward. It may take a few tries to get the technique right. Play around with folding the wingtips. I've found many different configurations that work.
Alternate Form Alternate
In steps 5 and 6, make the fold at 1/4 of the way from the flat edge to the point.
In steps 7 and 8, make the fold at 1/4 of the way from the back edge.
Do not make the fold in step 11 and the first part of step 12.