How to Make the SkyVulture Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and simple, the SkyVulture is a quick and nimble dart paper airplane optimized as a "fighter-interceptor."

The SkyVulture was designed as an alternative to the original Vulture with the aims of lower complexity and better stability. While the design of the Vulture drew upon the JetVulcan, to attain the new goals the SkyVulture drew upon the HelioVulcan. The aircraft's construction borrows heavily from the Vulcan family and only deviates from it late in construction. When this deviation occurs, the construction pattern remains analogous to that seen on the original Vulture. The SkyVulture proved itself just as capable as the original in flight testing, so I approved it for publication given its suitability as a compliment shortly thereafter.

TAA USAF Designation: F360-2

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Tape

Ruler

Pencil

Optional:

Scissors (for additional surfaces only)

Step 2: Length and Nose Folding

Fold your paper in half length-wise. Then pull the paper down so that the crease stretches from the fold at the front you just made and the corner of the paper on the other side. Repeat on the other side. Pull the edge of this layer back toward the crease on each side and then open these folds. Fold the edges into the creases as shown, the pull the creases of these corner folds into themselves as shown.

Step 3: Canard and Nose Folding

Fold the previous folds along the existing creases as shown, then pull the overhanging paper back away from the center crease. Repeat on the other side. Pull the tip of the nose back until its tips meet the apex of the diamond; then tuck the edges of the paper underneath the other layers as shown.

After this is completed, pull the now blunt tip of the paper down to the trailing edge of the paper. Fold the leading edges of the wing down along the trailing edges of the airfoil folds as shown. Once this is done, pull the nose folds forward until they reach the airfoil folds' new rear points and stop to make a crease; then fold the airplane up along its center crease.

Step 4: Canard, Wing and Winglet Folding; Taping

Fold your paper airplane in half along its center. Fold the canards down as shown, aligning its leading edge with the fuselage to maintain an angle of incidence of zero degrees. Measure 1 inch upwards along the trailing edge from the center crease and 1 inch inwards from the wingtip along the trailing edge. Once you have done this, fold the wings down at the 1 inch mark you made previously. After this has been completed, fold each winglet at the 1 inch point you made previously. After the winglets are made, apply tape where designated. This will complete your SkyVulture.

Step 5: Flight

Shaped like many of the aircraft of the Vulcan family and the similar Vulture, the SkyVulture also handles very much the same too. The SkyVulture should be launched at a neutral or positive attitude at a moderate to high speed. Test flights should be conducted to see what trim (if any) is needed. Additional applicable surfaces include elevators, ailerons, elevons, rudders, air brakes, canard trim and an "electronic warfare" tail. Enjoy!