How to Make the Vanguard Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and versatile, the Vanguard is a small fighter-interceptor paper airplane. The Vanguard is intended as a successor to older, less capable types like the Skylancer, Hyperceptor and StratoDart; each of which have been overshadowed by advances found on the Vanguard. The appearance of the Vanguard is similar to the comparable Super StratoEagle, which also features trimmable canards and leading edge extensions. Unique to the Vanguard are its movable canards, which can be set before flight to optimize performance; these inputs can better configure the aircraft for fast climbs, shallow dives, slow flight, stall recovery or just about any other flight profile desired.

TAA USAF Designation: F291-1

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch Paper
Tape
Ruler
Pencil
Optional:
Scissors (additional surfaces only)

Fold your paper in half along its length. Measure 0.75 inches above this center crease at the leading edge of the paper and make a mark. Measure 1 inch in from the wingtip along the trailing edge and make a mark. Then connect these marks with a diagonal fold and repeat on the other side. Then fold the paper of the airfoil into the crease you just made on each side as shown. Then refold the diagonal folds you made previously.

Pull the overhanging flaps of paper upwards and crease them so they are flush with the center crease in the fuselage. Once you have done this on both sides, pull the paper downward and toward the center as shown. Then unfold the center crease of the fuselage. Pull the tip of the nose to the trailing edge. From the crease this has just made, measure 1 inch back. At this mark, reverse the fold and pull it back forward; then crease. Now pull the tip of the nose down to the straight edges of the canards. Then unfold and fold the tip to this crease and then refold the first crease of this series, as shown. Fold the canards as shown, their edges should be folded until there is no more to be folded, and alignment should be with the straight edges of the flaps on the canards.

Fold the aircraft in half along its center crease. Then measure 0.75 inches up from the center crease, and 0.75 inches down from the wingtip (each along the trailing edge). Fold at these marks by aligning the trailing edges with those of the wings.

Tape at the front, back and along wing sections where designated. Also tape the flaps of the canards together as shown. This will complete your Vanguard.

The Vanguard is a flexible airplane, and can be flown at high or moderately low speeds. At launch; the airplane should be given a (a) fast throw for fast flights intended at neutral or positive attitudes (the canards should be set to point straight down) or (b) a moderate throw for slower flights intended at negative or neutral attitudes (canards should be set to 15 to 30 degrees anhedral deflection). Also, launches in the "(b)" configuration can be made at positive attitudes, but additional launch speed is required. Additional applicable surfaces include elevators, ailerons, elevons, slats, flaps, flaperons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and rudders. Enjoy!