How to Make the SkyMite Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and small, the SkyMite is a compact "drone-fighter" paper airplane, developed from the larger Super SkyGnat. It is capable of easily serving as a small "fighter-interceptor."

The SkyMite was developed as a lightweight follow-on to the Super SkyGnat and as a more capable successor to the Mite. Development was sped up with the recycling of most of the former's configuration.

TAA USAF Designation: D294-2

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

Start construction of your SkyMite 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 9 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. Proceed to 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 (3 boxes in length by 3 boxes in width, and a swept portion in front of this box of 2 boxes eliminated every 3 boxes away from the root). In addition, measure 2 boxes along the crease and 2 boxes upwards from one side and the 1 box forward. Then draw a diagonal line connecting this line the other edge of the line along the crease. This will make the horizontal stabilizers. Then cut it out.

Solid lines indicate places to cut. Dotted lines indicate fold lines.

Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches

Begin making your airframe's fuselage by cutting it out and folding the counterweight in. Next, cut along the solid horizontal line as shown. Once this is done, fold the vertical stabilizer forward along dotted vertical line and fold the landing gear and spars down. Then unfold. Once this is complete, tape where designated.

Cut out and unfold your wing and flip your airframe inverted. Tape the wing to the fuselage by applying tape to the spars, with the overhang grabbing the wing. Cut off any excess tape. Flip the airframe over and then apply tape to the leading edge of the wing that sits atop the leading edge root extensions. Cut out your horizontal stabilizers and thread them through the fuselage beneath the rudders. Fold them up once through and tape them to the fuselage. This will complete your SkyMite.

Having comparable configurations, the SkyMite's performance mirrors that of its namesake, the Mite. Launches at moderate to high speed at neutral or negative attitudes will give the aircraft its best possible speed and range performance. Launches can be done at a positive attitude, but launch speed should be faster (range may be reduced). Instability can be cured through proper trimming, and so after only a few test flights, the Mite should be able to fly straight very easily. Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!