How to Make the UltraSerpent Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and stable, the UltraSerpent is an improved version of its namesake, the original Serpent "drone-fighter" paper airplane. This new variant features canards for improved pitch stability, particularly at high speed.

Development of the UltraSerpent began around the same time as the comparable Super SkyLocust paper airplane. Design went smoothly and testing was completed successfully in a short while. However, due to a perceived lack of need for the plane, it was shelved--despite its success.

TAA USAF Designation: D275-2

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Stapler

Start construction of your UltraSerpent by sketching out the design featured in the first picture. The graph paper this is made on should have one set of boxes folded in half at its crease. The fuselage is 10 boxes in length and has a counterweight of 3 by 2 boxes. One box from the rear of the fuselage, make a solid line along the graph line 0.5 boxes above the crease that stretches 2 boxes forward. Then 2 boxes inwards from the rear of the fuselage, make a dotted vertical line. The layout of the lines is complex, so it is easier to show than explain. Proceed to then cut it out.

After the fuselage is made, take another sheet of paper that is folded in half along the lines of boxes. Mark out the wing as shown (1 boxes in length by 8 boxes in width, and a swept portion in front of this box of 1 box eliminated every box toward the front of the fuselage). Then cut the wing out. Measure 2 boxes along the crease, measure two boxes upwards from one mark and make another point. Then draw a diagonal line connecting this new mark to the one further away. From the mark you just made, measure one box further away from the one now connected to the line and make a mark. Sketch a line between this mark and the other mark along the crease. Then cut the horizontal stabilizers out.

Solid lines indicate places to cut. Dotted lines indicate fold lines.

Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches

Cut out your fuselage and fold its counterweights and canards into place. Once this is done, fold along the vertical dotted line and cut along the solid horizontal line. Once the cut has been made, undo the fold. At this point, fold down the spars, canards and landing gear, and then fold the vertical fins up. Now tape where designated.

Cut out your wings and lay them out flat. Align the fuselage over top so the spars align with the wing as shown. Then apply tape. Cut off any excess. Cut out your horizontal stabilizers and slide them through the slit in
the fuselage you made earlier. When through, fold them up and apply tape to the underside; then fold down. Apply three staples in the area of the counterweight beneath the canards (two on the left side and one on the right side). This will have completed your aircraft.

The UltraSerpent is a stable airplane with good flight characteristics. Launches at moderate to high speed at neutral or slightly negative attitudes will give the aircraft its best possible speed and range performance. Launches can be done at a positive attitude, but launch speed should be increased (range may be reduced). Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and trimmable rudders. Enjoy!