How to Make the Fang Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and nimble, the Fang is a tiny "drone fighter" paper airplane. The Fang was developed as an alternative to the very similar Turbo Meteor paper airplane.

Development of the Fang went along quickly, as all aspects of the design were existing. The fuselage was the same as that of the Turbo Meteor and the wing design was identical to that of the Turbo Serpent (though on the Fang it is ultimately altered slightly in featuring winglets for ground stability). The prototype was constructed quickly and soon proved itself capable and worthy of publication.

Some potential experiments possible with this airframe include:

• Glide ratio
• Weight and balance
• Hangtime versus other aircraft
• How surface inequality can affect aircraft (geometry/shape studies)
• Physics experiments

TAA USAF Designation: D373-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Stapler

Step 2: Begin Construction

Fold your paper in half so that half a box is at the crease line. Make two marks 10 boxes from one another and mark out the fuselage as shown. The counterweight should be made as a 2 by 3 rectangle, with canards and the vertical stabilizer behind it.. Measure 1 box forward along the half box line and and make a mark; then make a solid horizontal line 5 boxes from it as shown.

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 6 boxes in width, and a swept portion in front of this box of 3 boxes of span eliminated every 4 boxes of chord toward the front of the fuselage). Then cut the wing out.

Solid lines indicate places to cut. Dotted lines indicate fold lines.
Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches

Step 3: Making the Fuselage

Cut out your fuselage and fold its counterweights into place. Cut off the extra vertical fin. 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. Fold down the canards and tape where designated.

Step 4: Applying the Wings; Taping and Stapling

Cut out the wings, pull the wing through the slit in the fuselage, and then apply tape. Fold the winglets along the dotted lines. Flatten the wings and canards to where they have no anhedral deflection. Apply one staple in the area of the counterweight folds. This will complete your Fang.

Step 5: Flight

The Fang is quite forgiving and stable in flight. Launches should be done at neutral or positive attitudes at medium to high speed. 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 a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!