How to Make the UltraDagger Paper Airplane

Very fast, long range and stable, the UltraDagger is a very small but capable dart paper airplane developed from the older and larger HyperDagger.

The UltraDagger was developed as an interceptor variant of the HyperDagger with very high wing loading in an effort to improve stability and airframe rigidity further. The new design was conceived before a physical prototype was made, so as a result, the first UltraDagger was actually made from a HyperDagger I rebuilt and converted for testing. Despite the airframe being fairly old and somewhat worn, the new design was shown to be very promising. I continued testing with new built prototypes and after these upheld the previous showing of capability in testing, I decided the design was worthy of publication.

TAA USAF Designation: F364-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch (or 8.5 by 8.5 inch) Paper

Tape

Scissors (unless your paper is square)

Pencil

Ruler

Step 2: Length Folding and Corner Folding

Fold your paper in half along its length.
Note: Only perform the following three steps if your paper measured 8.5 inches by 11 inches originally. Measure 2.5 inches in from the back and make a mark. After this, realign your ruler perpendicular to the edge on which the mark was placed and make a line to the other side. Cut along this line.

Fold the corners down to the center fold on each side.

Step 3: Airfoil Folding

Fold the creases of the corner folds down to the center crease. At the rear of the paper, fold the tip of the paper down to the crease on each side as shown. Fold the edges of the paper into the creases you have made with the previous folds. After doing this, fold the corners of the paper to the edges on each side as shown, then unfold them and pull their edges into their creases once again. Tuck the paper shortly afterward. After this, fold the creases of these folds down over top of themselves. Continue to fold the paper along existing creases until your paper matches the last photograph to create the airfoils.

Step 4: Canard and Nose Folding

Pull the overhanging paper back over the center crease. Repeat on the other side. After doing this, pull the diamond back until its tips meet the apexes of the diamond; then tuck the edges of the paper underneath the other layers as shown after pulling the overhanging portion back forward. This will complete the initial folding of the canards.

Fold the airplane in half along the center crease and fold the nose down to the trailing edge as shown. Then pull the nose back forward until the rears of the canards are reached. Fold the nose back to the trailing edges again, then fold the corners to the existing crease made by the nose folding. Once this has been completed, pull the nose over these folds.

Fold the canards down on each side while keeping their leading edges parallel with that of the nose. Along the trailing edge, measure 1 inch above the center crease and make a mark. At this mark, fold the wings

Step 5: Canard, Wing and Winglet Folding; Taping

Fold the airplane in half along the center crease and fold the canards down. Align the canards' leading edges with that of the nose to maintain the angle of incidence of zero degrees. Measure 1 inch from the center crease and fold the wings down at the mark. Align the wings' trailing edges with the fuselage to maintain the proper angle of incidence. After this, measure 1 inch inboard from each wingtip and make a mark. At this mark, fold the winglets and align their trailing edges with those of the wings.

Apply tape where designated in the photographs.

Step 6: Flight

As a dart with very high wing loading, the UltraDagger is a plane that is stable and quick. Launches should be done at high speed at neutral or positive attitudes. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, elevators, ailerons, rudders and air brakes. Enjoy!