Tinker Schwalbe paper planes - that's how it works!

• Schwalbe # 1: Everything from a single source
  • Instructional Video
• Swallow # 2: Two parts
  • Instructional Video

The sight of a swallow sailing through the skies is truly enchanting. Create a taste of this fascination yourself by crafting a swallow paper plane. For this purpose you need neither special know-how nor much time. In a few minutes, your personal paper swallow is ready and ready for departure. We will show you step by step how to proceed to make a stable Schwalbe paper airplane!

It does not always have to be the wickedly expensive model airplane to arouse the pleasure of the aviator-enthusiast. A homemade swallow made of paper is not quite as spectacular as the real bird or a real giant plane - and the mentioned model aircraft makes obviously much more visually. However, creating a Schwalbe Paper Airplane by hand is a lot of fun - both children and adults. In addition, you can spice up your own work at will, for example with colored or felt pens and funny stickers. Follow our comprehensively described and above all vividly illustrated instructions for two simple Schwalbe paper airplanes and organize your individual air show with the absolutely suitable results!

Schwalbe # 1: Everything from a single source

Material: Din A4 sheet
Difficulty level: easy
Time required: maximum of 5 to 10 minutes (depending on comprehension and exercise)

Step 1: Place a Din A4 sheet in portrait orientation on a flat table.

Step 2: First, fold the top right corner to the other side of the paper. Open the sheet immediately afterwards.

Step 3: Repeat step 2 with the left side.

Step 4: Open the sheet again. If you've done everything right up to this point, you'll see a folded cross on your paper right now.

Step 5: Apply the sheet to the back. Fold the side triangles inwards. The center of the cross is refolded with your fingers. Fold the paper into a triangle.

Step 6: Now it's getting simpler again, the hardest part is already behind you. Grab the right paper double layer of the triangle and fold it up. In short: Just fold the right corner to the top.

Step 10: Repeat step 9 with the left paper double layer of the triangle. The result of the last two actions are two more small triangles that meet on their longest sides.

Step 11: Lay the sheet in front of you with the point pointing towards you.

Step 12: Then fold the right part of the tip upwards. Now fold up the left part of the top. This is what the whole thing looks like after this step:

Step 13: Apply the sheet to the back.

Step 14: Flip back the triangular area exposed through steps 12 and 13 and flip the sheet over.

Step 15: Fold the paper together. Retighten the lines thoroughly.

Step 16: Then fold over the first wing. The distance to the center should be about one centimeter.

Step 17: Then flip the second wing of your dove-flier analogous to the first one.

Step 20: You almost made it. However, your swallow still needs stabilizers. To do this, simply fold the left and right edges of the paper up a little bit. In addition, you can easily tear the undersides of the wings at a distance of about one to two centimeters to the center and the edge and also fold the marked areas upwards. That's it - your swallow is ready to fly!

Instructional Video

Swallow # 2: Two parts

Material: Din A4 sheet, scissors (if required)
Difficulty level: easy
Time required: maximum of 5 to 10 minutes (depending on comprehension and exercise)

Step 1: Grab a sheet of A4 paper and place it in portrait orientation.

Step 2: Fold the upper right corner to the other side of the sheet. Then open the sheet again.

Step 3: Repeat the previous step with the left side.

Step 4: Fold the previously untouched lower section of the paper straight up.

Step 5: Cut the rectangular area of ​​the paper from the square.

Step 6: Now prepare the rectangle for its later use. For the time being, set aside the square with the folded cross. Fold the rectangle together along the side.

Step 7: Miss the rectangle on one of the two closed sides of a small dog-ear, which reaches approximately to the middle (measured at the short broadside).

Step 8: Fold up the donkey's ear again and use the resulting fold lines to fold a rabbit's ear inwards. This is what the whole thing looks like:

Step 9: Then take care of the opposite side that you have not worked on yet. Open the rectangle and fold the two corners to the middle.

10th step: The rectangle is now finished. Lay it aside and then grab the square.

Step 11: Turn the square sheet over and fold it once.

Step 12: Turn the paper over. See the horizontal fold line that runs from left to right through the center of the cross ">

Step 14: Now take the right paper double layer of the triangle and fold it upwards. In other words, simply fold the right corner to the top.

Step 15: Repeat the previous step with the left paper double layer of the triangle. Now you should see two more small triangles that meet at their longest sides.

Step 16: Fold the two upper tips of the newly formed triangles to the middle.

Step 17: Fold the entire construct together.

Step 18: Fold it open again.

Step 19: Grab the finished rectangle and push it into the former square with the sharp side ahead.

Step 20: Fold the entire swallow together again and fold the wings outwards.

Step 21: Bend your paper plane a bit. Done is the swallow!

Instructional Video

General tips for crafting a swallow paper plane

• In order to enhance the appearance of the aircraft, it is advisable to use colorful paper from the beginning. Alternatively or in addition, you can also color your swallow. The basic tint should be made before folding - on the other hand, it is best to complete the decoration at the very end of your tinkering. Funny stickers are of course in question. Just be creative!

• Do not dispense with the integration of the described stabilizers. They are always used to improve the flight characteristics of your Schwalbe paper airplane. Be sure to always install the stabilizers symmetrically - otherwise you will probably experience restless flight phases and premature crashes. In general, you should work very carefully to get a really airworthy Schwalbe paper plane at the end.

• To craft a Schwalbe paper plane you do not need any special craftsmanship. The material costs are not even worth mentioning. And then the tinkering of the paper projectile requires only a minimum of time. So there is not a single reason that speaks against the design of such a swallow. With a little patience and a lot of meticulousness, you'll have a flight-ready paper plane within minutes, which is simply fun. Grab a piece of paper and set it right!

Tips for quick readers:

• Create Schwalbe paper plane with a Din A4 sheet
• Other materials are not required
• Time required 5 minutes maximum (for beginners, not more than double)
• Two different variants with airworthy results
• Many small folding steps lead to a great result
• Precise work required for good flight characteristics
• So-called stabilizers optimize the flying abilities of paper planes
• Use colored paper or paint or decorate white paper