How to Make the Chimera Paper Airplane

The Chimera is a fast little airplane with canards doing double duty as landing gear as well as lifting surfaces.

TAA USAF Designation: A50-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper
Tape
Optional:
Pencil

Step 2: Start Folding

First, fold your paper in half length-wise. Then fold it in half width-wise. Your paper should now be folded into fourths.

Step 3: Fold the Leading Edge's Sweep

Now that you are folding the leading edge, fold your paper to suit it. First, take your paper and fold your up right corner to the left-center (as you revealed with the fourth fold). Then repeat on the other side.

Step 4: Cover Folding

Fold the paper down along the fourth crease where it appearsafter the sweep fold has been secured down. Repeat on the other side. Then flatten the paper. Your airplane should now appear like it does in the fourth picture.

Step 5: Pull the Cover Fold Forward; Prepare to Make the Landing Gear

To begin folding the cover fold forward, pull the paper up to the highest point you can without tearing, and crease it. Then fold the top of the layer you just pulled up down to its own bottom. After this, pulll down the small edge of paper over the half fold you just made.

Step 6: Fold the Landing Gear

Now that your paper airplane is on its back, and is facing up with its "clean" side. From the clean side, fold the edge of the canards down to the other side. Once you have folded both sides along these seams, and tuck them under themselves. After you have done this, Fold them where they intersect with the main wing, with the front remaining parallel.

Step 7: Fold the Wings and Winglets

With everything else in previous steps completed, proceed to fold your wings. The wing root crease should intercept the airfoil fold where it emerges from under the canards to the back, parallel to center of the paper. Once you've folded both the wings, begin on the winglets. Fold your winglets up 0.75 inches from the wingtips. Complete both winglets and then this step is finished.

Step 8: Tape Your Chimera

Tape your paper airplane together at the front and rear, and at the area between the leading edges of the main wing and the trailing edges of the canards.

Step 9: Flight

Your Chimera is now ready to buzz around as you throw it about. Enjoy!