How to Make the AeroCruiser Paper Airplane

Designed for simplicity and ease of construction, the AeroCruiser is a small, conventional drone cruiser paper airplane designed to complement more intricate designs like the Super Starship and Turbo StratoDragon.

The AeroCruiser's development period was rather brief, and this swiftness was aided by the airplane's elementary design. The fuselage design was based largely upon that of the StarCardinal to maintain as much commonality as possible. All of these factors proving elementary to triumph over, the AeroCruiser performed well in flight testing and only minor trimming had to be done before it was cleared for publication.

TAA USAF Designation: D311-1

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper
Tape
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Stapler

Start construction of your AeroCruiser 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. 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 box of constant chord at the root; a leading edge sweep of 1 box of chord decaying every 8 boxes outward from the constant chord box, you will make a mark 4 boxes out from the constant chord box, 0.5 boxes behind the point it is being connected to; and a trailing edge sweep of 1 box of decay along the 4 boxes of wingspan). 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 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 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. Flip the aircraft over and apply tape to the leading edge of the wing above the leading edge root extensions.

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 one staple in the area of the counterweight. This will have completed your aircraft.

The AeroCruiser handles similarly to other cruisers, and so those with experience flying other cruiser paper airplanes like the Turbo StratoDragon should have little trouble transitioning to this aircraft. Launches for the AeroCruiser should be done at (slightly) negative or neutral attitudes at moderate speed. Nose up elevator trim may be necessary, (determine if this/how much is required with test flights). Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, spoilers, ailerons, elevators, air brakes and trimmable rudders. Enjoy!