Mini Paper Airplane Flinger

This is a simple, easy to make toy that can be constructed purely out of household supplies. It is essentially a paper airplane with a wooden nose that latches into a rubber band and thus can be pulled back and released to send the plane hurdling through the air.

Supplies

• 1 sheet of computer paper
• 1 small popsicle stick
• 1 large popsicle stick
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 utility knife, or carpet cutter (do be careful)
• 1 rubber band
• Normal scotch tape

Step 1: Notching the Sticks

Take your two popsicle sticks and carefully use the utility knife to put two notches in the sides of the larger stick about a centimeter from the top as shown. Then put an upward slanting notch in one side of the smaller one as shown. It is important that you keep the notch in a hook-like shape or it will not catch the rubber band later on.

Step 2: Fasten the Rubber Band

Simply loop the rubber band around the larger popsicle stick as shown (make sure it is tight!).

Step 3: Cutting the Paper

For this project, you really only need a quarter of a sheet of paper, so you just need to cut it in half, then cut one of the halves in half. Folding it can help if you wish.

Step 4: Making the Airplane

Now we take our quarter sheet of paper and fold it in half. Take the top two corners of the sheet and fold them down to the fold mark. After you do this, your product should look like the first picture. Next, take those two corners and fold them in again, as is shown in the second. Turn the plane on its side and fold the side down as shown in the third picture. You have made one wing. Repeat this process on the other side and your plane should look like the one in the last photo.

Step 5: Affixing the Smaller Stick

For this step, you simply place the stick down the enter of the plane with the tip of the paper meeting the end of your notch, which should be facing the ground. Securely tape it in.

Step 6: Now Your Project Is Ready to Fly!

Simply hook the rubber band into the nose of your mini paper airplane, pull back, and release! This should send your plane shooting away! You can even make multiple planes if you want to be able to fire several before picking them up. Have fun!