About the Nakamura lock
Named after Eiji Nakamura, famous for his paper plane creations. The little point folded up over its nose locks all its folds in place.
Paper Plane Academy › Steady
How to fold the Nakamura lock
Steady, rarely stalls. 11 folds from a plain sheet, a little fiddly. Drag the red corner along its arrow, or press Fold.
- Steady flights
- Lasting
Fold it alongStep by stepFly it wellPrint it
There it goes: the nakamura lock you folded is flying on this page. Catch it, and throw it again.
Folding a real one? Print its template: every crease, numbered.
How it flies: steady
Blunt nose, rarely stalls. The point locks its folds in place: steady, rarely stalls.
Where it comes from
Eiji Nakamura, a Japanese origami artist and the author of a book of paper planes, Flying Origami. The Exploratorium describes his lock as one fold added to the classic dart.
Sources: CSIRO Double Helix · Exploratorium · Open Library: Flying OrigamiStep by step
moves fold here where it ends up
Fold the top left corner to the middle.
And the other one.
Fold the top down, where the folds end.
The new corners to the middle, short of a point: keep the top flat.
And the other one.
Now fold the little point up over them: that’s the lock.
Turn it over.
Fold it in half along the middle.
Fold the wing down, along the keel.
Turn it over.
And fold the other wing to match.
Open the wings out, level with the keel. Hold it under its middle and throw it gently, straight ahead.
Fly it well
How to throw it
A firm, level throw. Its weighty nose keeps it on line; thrown too hard, the nose flies it into the floor, so ease off if it dives.
If it misbehaves
- Dives? Throw softer first, then bend the back edges up a little.
- Wobbles? Sharpen the creases and pinch the body shut.
- Turns? Match the wings, then trim the opposite back edge up.
More help
Fix your paper plane: nose-dives, stalls, turns and wobbles, and the bends that trim them out. Or see which plane is best for what you want.
Watch it folded
Nakamura Lock Paper AirplaneJeremy Shafer, on YouTubeFolded slowly, with the lock up close.More planes to fold
Gliderfloaty, wide loopsSuzannethe distance record: glides on and onDartquick and trueArrowslim, fast, dead straightHeavy dartgoes far, sinks fastLoopertight loops, rolls easilyBulldog darta blunt nose: steady and toughHarriera locked nose, pointed wings: steady and quickHammera snub nose, long slim wings: flies far and true