How to Make the SkyTraveler Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and aerodynamic, the SkyTraveler is a small "drone-cruiser" paper airplane optimized for gliding long distances quickly. It is a simplified derivative of the Traveler (from which conversions can be made by trimming the latter's stabilizers).

The SkyTraveler's development was quick, as the aircraft is a rather straight forward development of the original Traveler. To counter the pitch down tendency the original design tend to need trimmed away and reduce the amount of material required to make the aircraft, I designed a new variant with smaller stabilizers. To test the concept, I converted a Traveler and found the idea worked well. Flight testing went smoothly and the design was cleared for publication shortly thereafter.

TAA USAF Designation: D365-3

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Scissors

Ruler

Tape

Pencil

Stapler

First, begin by folding your your graph paper in half (excluding three boxes on the perforated side). Once the paper has been folded appropriately, make two marks--11 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). Use a ruler to make a straight line with the length of 11 boxes directly up 1 row of boxes from the two marks you just made. Then make the stabilizers, spars and counterweight as shown. Make the diagonal line on the ventral fuselage as shown and follow all photograph markings.

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 4 boxes outward from the constant chord box; and a trailing edge sweep of 1 box of decay along the 5 boxes of wingspan). This will complete the wings.

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

Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches

Cut out your fuselage and fold the counterweight into the fuselage. Fold down the horizontal stabilizers, landing gear and spars. Once this is done, apply tape where designated. After taping all noted points, cut where shown.

Cut out and unfold your SkyTraveler's wings. Once this is done, align the airframe with the wing and secure the wings to the spars with tape. Apply tape to the leading edge of the wing at its intersection with the LERX then apply one staple in the area of the counterweight as directed. Cut away the portion of the fuselage below the diagonal line at the rear. This will complete your aircraft.

The SkyTraveler is a simple paper airplane and handles with great docility. Launches should be done at moderate speed at neutral attitude. The angle between the stabilizers should be 60 degrees. Test flights should be conducted to verify and maintain the angle of the stabilizers. Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!