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How to fold an origami paraglider

Fan-pleat a long orange strip so its ends bend down into an arch and round the tips. Fold a black strip into a V of lines, add a pilot in a harness and stripe every other cell.

You need: Orange: a 3 x 30 cm strip. Black: a 0.7 x 28 cm strip. Blue: a 5 x 4 cm piece. Scissors, a glue stick, a white and a black pen. Hard, 14 steps, about 30 minutes.

Steps

  1. First pleats. Orange side up. 2 cm right of the middle, fold the right part over to the left on a crease leaning out a bit at the bottom. Fold the left part behind the same way.
  2. Fold them back. Fold each end back out on a crease from the same top point, leaning the other way. The thin wedge pleat tips the end down.
  3. Pleats 2. 4.5 cm further out, fold the right end over and the left end behind the same way, each crease leaning out a little at the bottom.
  4. Fold them back 2. Fold each end back out again from the same top point, leaving a thin wedge pleat. The ends bend further down.
  5. Pleats 3. 4.5 cm further out, fold the right end over and the left end behind the same way, each crease leaning out a little at the bottom.
  6. Fold them back 3. Fold each end back out again from the same top point, leaving a thin wedge pleat. The ends bend further down.
  7. Round the tips. Snip the two outer corners off each end on a slant, so the wing tips are rounded.
  8. Lines: new strip. Set the canopy aside. Take the long black strip, white side up.
  9. Lines: in half. Fold it in half lengthwise, top edge down onto the bottom edge.
  10. Lines: bend into a V. Fold the right half up and over on a slanted crease at the middle, so the two halves make a V.
  11. Pilot: new sheet. Set the lines aside. Take the small blue piece, white side up.
  12. Pilot: sides in. Fold the two sides in to meet in the middle.
  13. Pilot: shape it. Round the top into a helmet and cut the bottom corners off on a slant, so the legs taper.
  14. Glue it together. Glue the V of lines behind the pilot's shoulders, its two ends up under the canopy.

Ready to soar!

Colour every other cell white, then draw the pilot's face, a black harness belt and a line between the legs.

How to fly it

  1. Hold it by the canopy and let it glide slowly down a hill of pillows.
  2. Hang it on a thread by a window so it rides the breeze.
  3. Make two in different colours and race them down the stairs.

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