How To Build a Paper Helicopter

There are two types of paper helicopters - these that fly but don't look like real helicopters and these that look like helicopters but don't fly. The few models of paper helicopters which look realistic and also fly are not entirely made of paper, but contain engine and plastic or metal parts.

There are many guides for making one of these little flying rotors called paper helicopters. If you are looking for such one, I have selected few links at the bottom of this page.

This guide here is for building a realistic static paper helicopter like the one you see below:

Click on it to see it larger

Below are the instructions and the drawing. You can click on the picture to see the drawing large. You can also download the PDF and print it on your printer. It's ready for cutting out when printed. It fits A4 or letter size and the entire helicopter is made from a single sheet of paper. I recommend to use slightly ticker or glossier paper than the regular office paper.

Click on it to see it larger

Please note the blue lines are not for cutting - they are just there to make your helicopter look better. If you are willing to change the design or add elements yourself, here is the SVG file which I made with InkScape. I'm not InkScape guru so there might be better ways to make some objects, I know. But the drawing is good for printing, and that's what matters.

Specific Instructions

1. I recommend you first cut and build pieces 3, 4 and 5 and let the glue dry well.

2. Piece 4 is the propeller. The serrations at the bottom should be turned out and glued to the fuselage at the end.

3. Pieces 3 and 5 make the tail. When gluing the tail to the fuselage, insert it deep inside. Otherwise the center of gravity will be moved and your helicopter will fall on its tail.

4. The hardest task is assembling parts 1 and 2. I recommend you first make all the folds, then stick the serrations of part 2 to the curved part of one side of the fuselage.

The drawing should be good enough, but if you have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comments. If required I'll add more textual explanations or pictures.

Don't forget we have many great guides on paper airplanes too.

Here are some more images of the helicopter. Click on them to see them larger:

 

Some Flying Paper Helicopter Guides:

As promised, here are few good links in case you were looking for one of those flying toys:

• Here is one very detailed guide with pictures
• This page perhaps explains it simpler and easier
• And here is a video

The PDF and SVG files are available for republishing with Creative Commons Attribution License. A live, followed link to this page needs to be provided.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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User comments:

rc helicopter fan at Jul, 22 '11 03:12
Printed it off and built one, I'm just working on one with a camo design, I'm very bored.

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rc helicopter fan
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