Introduction: How to Make an "Electronic Warfare" Tail for Your Paper Airplane
This is an "electronic warfare" tail I developed for better stability and lift on paper airplanes.
A tailplane is an important part of most all aircraft. And although some specialized aircraft like flying wings and paper airplanes avoid the requirement of having a tailplane, adding one can make your plane look cooler, and in some cases even improve performance greatly.
Electronic warfare aircraft, like the USAF EF-111A Raven, and the USN/USMC EA-6B Prowler have pods on their tailplanes which house antennae. These pods resemble--looking front-to-back, or vice versa--pine trees.
How cool would it be to have an "electronic warfare" paper airplane? Well, this is how to add this very cool accessory.
To show you how to make this conversion, I will build off of a Super Dart paper airplane to make the 'EF12-1' Super Dart.
Step 1: Materials
Step 2: Cutting the Tailplane
To make the tailplane, a simple cut at an obtuse angle torwards the nose of the aircraft. Then reverse the tail through the center of the aircraft to be above the wing. Then fold the plane in half and put it down.
Step 3: Folding the Tailplane
As your plane lies flat, push the top center fold of the fin to the wings' center. Then open it as it was before. Then fold that center fold line down to the wing root as cited in the picture (be sure not to fold the other side in the process). Then open it. Repeat on the other side.
Step 4: Tape the Tail
Tape your Super Dart's nose, rear, and pod together.
After this, your aircraft should appear as it does in the last two pictures.
Step 5: Finished
Your "electronic warfare" pod is now finished. It will now provide your aircraft additional stability and lift.
You can now build fairly asymmetrical aircraft that will still fly straight and far without worry.
Enjoy!