How to Make the Swift StarVulcan Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and capable, the Swift StarVulcan is an improved variant of the Super StarVulcan with design changes made for better high speed performance.

Following the successful development of the similar Swift Vulcan from the Turbo MetaVulcan, I decided to implement similar changes on analogous aircraft like the Super StarVulcan. I elected to do this to both strengthen the designs and eliminate the Turbo MetaVulcan-type canard configuration which, while effective, proved complex to work with. To that end, I reworked the Super StarVulcan's design and made the necessary changes to make it like the Swift Vulcan. Ultimately, the prototype showed that the Vulcan family was accommodating of change, and performed well in flight testing with the modifications.

TAA USAF Designation: F292-28

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Tape

Optional:

Ruler (for additional surfaces only)

Pencil (for additional surfaces only)

Scissors (for additional surfaces only)

Step 2: Length, Fourth, Corner and Airfoil Folding

Take your paper and fold it along its length. After doing this, fold the edges of the paper into the center crease you have made. Once this has been completed, pull the corners in and fold their creases into the center. Unfold the paper, then fold the edges into the creases you have made with the previous folds. After doing this, fold the corners of the paper down on each side, as shown. 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 3: Nose, Winglet and Airfoil Folding

Pull the overhanging paper back away from the center crease as shown. 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.

Pull the nose of the paper airplane back to the trailing edge as shown while keeping the center crease aligned with itself as shown in the seventh and eighth photographs. After doing this, pull the nose back forward until the nose fold crosses over the airfoil folds and crease at those points on both sides of the center crease.

With that done, pull the wingtips into the fourth fold as shown in the ninth and tenth photographs. Pull the paper between the leading edges of the nose and winglet folds backward on each side, as shown in the eleventh photograph. After doing this, unfold these two folds and fold the outer edges into the creases as pictured in the twefth and thirteenth photographs. Then fold the nose back to the trailing edge and fold the airfoils back over themselves once more. Pull the nose forward again until you can go no further (you will pass the previously established point in doing so) and crease.

Step 4: Canard and Wing Folding; Taping

Fold down the canards whilst keeping their leading edges aligned with the nose to maintain an angle of incidence of zero degrees. Following this, fold down the wings at the fourth folds you made previously. Align the trailing edges of the wings with that of the fuselage to keep the angle of incidence at zero degrees.

Observe the notes and ordering in the photographs to complete the following taping correctly. (Review the photograph and all of the notes in the image before beginning the taping process.) Apply tape to the nose above and below the canards, as well as to the dorsal LERX-wing joints. Then apply tape to the rear of the fuselage and over the wing root near the trailing edge. Once this has been done, apply tape to the ventral airfoil folds and canard folds to secure them to the fuselage. This will complete your Swift StarVulcan.

Step 5: Flight

The Swift StarVulcan flies much like the average dart paper airplane and flies in a manner extremely similar to previous Vulcan variants; any origami aviators with experience with the latter type should have very little difficulty transitioning.

Launches should be conducted at neutral or positive attitudes at moderate to high speeds. Test flights should be conducted to see what trim (if any) is required. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, ailerons, elevators, rudders, air brakes and an "electronic warfare" tail. Enjoy!