How to Make the Rattlesnake Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and simple, the Rattlesnake is an easy to make dart paper airplane meant to balance simplicity with performance. Although reminiscent of the now very old Python, the Rattlesnake is more closely related to the Vulcan family and draws on the developments of that series.

Development of the Rattlesnake began in late July 2014 and proceeded smoothly. The project was begun to provide a simpler aircraft than those of the Vulcan series whilst maintaining commonality in construction with that same family. The reasoning behind this was to give makers of the Rattlesnake more experience with construction, which could in turn help them if they chose to work with the similar but more advanced Vulcan family of paper airplanes. Flight testing went smoothly after construction of the prototypes and it proved itself capable. Publication was approved of shortly thereafter and it was allotted an instructable.

TAA USAF Designation: F322-1

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 tip of the nose back down to the rear edges of the corner folds then crease. Undo this fold, then pull the inner sections of the airfoils toward their leading edges. After creasing them, tuck the airfoils into themselves as shown. pull the triangle back down, then the tip back forward as shown.

Fold your paper airplane in half along its center. Measure 1 inch upwards along the trailing edge from the center crease and 1 inch inwards from the wingtip along the trailing edge. After this is completed, fold the wings down and then fold the winglets. After folding the wings and winglets, fold the canards so their tips touch the wing roots and are aligned with their own leading edges. Apply tape at the front and back, across the fuselage and at the the canard-wing joints as shown.

The Rattlesnake flies very similar to other dart paper airplanes; those with experience with similar types like the Dagger, Turbo Dagger, Super Sabre or other similar designs should have no major difficulties transitioning to it. Launches should be done at neutral or positive attitudes at moderate to high speeds. Nose-up trim may be required; you can check this by conducting test flights. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, slats, ailerons, elevators, air brakes, spoilers, trimmable rudders and an "electronic warfare" tail.