How to Make the AeroHunter Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and capable, the AeroHunter is an improved variant of the popular Hunter paper airplane. The canard design has been refined to increase performance whilst remaining simple and easy to make.

In response to the popularity of the Hunter, I decided in late 2015 to initiate the development of an improved Hunter variant to succeed the well liked first version. The main focus of these efforts was the canard design of the aircraft and to analyze the effectiveness of various test configurations I selected the related and proven Vulcan family to test the many experimental canard layouts. The Turbo MetaVulcan was a byproduct of these efforts. After the canard design developed with the Turbo MetaVulcan was fitted to the Hunter's design, performance of the latter was found to be improved at high speed. This trait had been reflected with the the Turbo MetaVulcan versus the related Vulcan variant as well. Testing proved the new Hunter variant as highly capable and it was approved for publication a short time later.

TAA USAF Designation: F372-3

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Tape

Pencil

Ruler

Optional:

Scissors (for additional surfaces only)

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. Pull the edge of this layer back toward the crease on each side and then open these folds. Fold the edges into the creases as shown, the pull the creases of these corner folds back outwards over themselves as shown.

Fold the previous folds along the existing creases as shown, then pull the overhanging paper back away from the center crease. Repeat on the other side. Pull the tip of the nose back until its tips meet the apex of the diamond; then tuck the edges of the paper underneath the other layers as shown.

Pull the tips of the paper along the trailing edges into the center fold and crease to make the fourth folds. After making the creases, unfold. After you have done this, reverse the creases as shown. Next, fold the fourth folds the opposite way from what you did before. Fold the paper down and reverse the airfoil folds as shown.

With this completed, pull the outer tips of the wings outward between the airfoils and trailing edges as shown. After doing this on each side, reverse the airfoil folds again to place all airfoils on the ventral side of the paper as pictured.

Pull the tip of the nose to the trailing edge and crease as shown. Measure 1 inch back from this crease along the center crease and make a mark at this point. Pull the nose forward again and crease (be sure to keep the nose straight by aligning the center crease with itself). After making this second crease, unfold it and fold the tips inward as shown. After doing so, pull the nose forward once again.

Fold the aircraft in half along the center crease, then measure 1 inch above the center crease along the trailing edge and make a mark. Before folding the wings down, fold the canards down. Fold the wings down at the trailing edge mark. Align the trailing edges of the wing with the trailing edge of the fuselage to maintain the proper angle of incidence.

To make the winglets, you will have to make four marks. Measure 1 inch from each wingtip along the wings' trailing edges and mark as noted. After doing this, measure 1.75 inches from each wingtip along the wings' leading edges and mark as noted.

Tape where noted in the photographs.

The AeroHunter flies just as the Hunter does; origami aviators with experience with the Hunter or Vulcan family should be able to transition easily. Launches should be made at moderate to high speeds at neutral or
positive attitude. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, elevators, ailerons, rudders and air brakes. Enjoy!