How to Make the Buffalo Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and extremely simple, the Buffalo is an easy-to-make dart paper airplane. It is designed to replace the age old "classic dart" paper airplane (which I have dubbed the "Super Sabre").

The Buffalo was developed as a response to the usual specification paper airplane viewers issue: simple, fast, long range aircraft. To this end, I looked to make an aircraft that required nothing more than a single sheet of common 8.5 by 11 inch copy paper. The Buffalo's design accommodates this, but can be augmented using other materials with it. Prototyping and flight testing went along quickly due to the aircraft's simple design and docile handling, so it was soon approved for publication.

TAA USAF Designation: F352-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Optional:

Tape

Ruler (for additional surfaces only)

Pencil (for additional surfaces only)

Scissors (for additional surfaces only)

Step 2: Length, Airfoil and Nose Folding

Fold your paper in half length-wise. Then pull the paper down so that the crease stretches from the fold at the front you just made and the corner of the paper on the other side. Repeat on the other side. Once this is completed, pull the overhanging paper back above the center crease made earlier. Fold the forward edges of these overhanging parts of the paper back over top of themselves. Repeat on the other side. Pull the tip of the nose to the edges of the airfoils at the center crease. Once done, pull the overhanging paper to the sides of the previous fold over top of this previous fold. Once this is done, tuck these folds into the nose folds as shown.

Step 3: Wing Folding; Taping

Pull the wings' leading edges down to meet the center creases on each side. Once this is done, apply tape to the nose, rear of the fuselage and across the wing roots near the wings' trailing edges. (The aircraft is capable of flight without tape, but I recommend it be taped.)

Your aircraft is now complete.

Step 4: Flight

The Buffalo is an extremely simple dart that flies similar to types such as the classic dart; even new origami aviators should have very little difficulty handling the type. Launches should be done at a neutral or positive attitude, at moderate to high speed. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, elevators, ailerons, slats, flaperons, elevons, rudders, air brakes and an "electronic warfare" tail. Enjoy!