The Alsomitra Seed Model: An Origami Glider That Catches the Wind and Soars!

Did you know there’s a plant seed often called the “flying jewel”? It’s the Alsomitra seed, and it’s famous for its ability to glide through the air just like a miniature glider.

So why are these seeds such expert flyers? It’s a brilliant strategy for plants to scatter their offspring far and wide. The farther they fly, the better their chances of growing in a new location. Today, let’s make an origami glider that, just like the Alsomitra seed, is an expert at catching the wind!

When I visited the Museum of Aeronautical Science, I had the chance to make an origami glider. Unlike a typical paper airplane, I was truly impressed by how it caught the wind and glided for a long time. It reminded me of the “Möwe,” the glider-like vehicle from the Studio Ghibli film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

The most important tip for making this glider is to cut your paper into a triangle.

Instructions

Instructions on how to make this origami glider are shown in detail in the video below. The key is to cut the origami paper into a triangle. Be sure to watch the video and try it out with me!