How to Make the AstroVulcan Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and simple, the AstroVulcan is a more capable, improved variant of the popular HyperVulcan paper airplane. The AstroVulcan features a stronger wing design than its basis, with sturdier wings enabling faster flight and greater rigidity.

The AstroVulcan was developed as a follow on to the HyperVulcan, in parallel with the Turbo Vulcan, Super ThunderVulcan and UltraStratoVulcan paper airplanes. Similar to those three aircraft, structural alterations were made to strengthen the aircraft, but there were no other changes. When prototyped, the aircraft proved itself a simple design boasting excellent performance and was allotted an instructable slot.

TAA USAF Designation: F292-17

Required:

1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Tape

Pencil

Ruler

Optional:

Scissors (additional surfaces only)

Take your paper and fold it along its length. Then pull the corners in and fold them into the center. Then flip the paper over and pull the creases of the corner folds inward.

Pull the corner folds inward as shown. After doing this, undo the previous leading edge folds you made and tuck them as shown. After making these folds, restore the original leading edge folds. Then pull the flaps of the nose back to their own trailing edges and tuck them beneath themselves. Pull the triangular portion of paper ahead of this back as is shown in the picture, then tuck the flaps into it.

Pull the blunt edge down to the trailing edge on the side with the airfoils. Measure 1 inch inward from the crease on the outer side and make a mark. Then pull the paper back forward, and crease at this 1 inch mark. After creating this crease, undo the fold and fold the tips inward as shown, then tuck these folds underneath the nose fold as you fold it upwards once again. 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.

Having a configuration nearly identical to that of the HyperVulcan, the AstroVulcan performs in similar fashion as its predecessor. The AstroVulcan should be launched at a neutral or positive attitude at a moderate to high speed. Additional applicable surfaces include elevators, ailerons, elevons, rudders, air brakes, canard trim and an "electronic warfare" tail. Enjoy!