How to Make the Super StarDragon Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and aerodynamic, the Super StarDragon is a small "drone cruiser" paper airplane designed and named as a spiritual successor to the StarDragon and an alternative to the similar SkyScout.

The Super StarDragon was designed as a cruiser aircraft able to take advantage of the benefits of swept wings and a T-tail. The aircraft's design drew upon the StratoCruiser family which features a similar airframe design. To accommodate the swept wings, the fuselage was lengthened. Test flights showed the aircraft was a capable design and it was cleared for publication.

TAA USAF Designation: D378-1

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper (4 boxes per inch)

Tape

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

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--10 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). Make the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, spars and counterweight as shown. Follow the 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 2 boxes of chord decaying every 3 boxes outward from the constant chord box; and a trailing edge swept back 1 box for every 4 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, unfold down the stabilizers, skids and spars. Then apply tape where designated.

Cut out and unfold your Super StarDragon's wings. Once this is done, align the airframe with the wing and secure the wings to the spars with tape. Cutoff all excess tape and tape the leading edge of the wing to the leading edge root extension at its joint as pictured. Apply one staple in the area of the counterweight folds. This will complete your aircraft.

The Super StarDragon is a design that can be finicky due its swept wings and high handling speeds; as such, it is an aircraft that is better suited to more experienced origami aviators. Launches should be at neutral attitudes at medium to high speed. Launches can be done at a positive attitude, but launch speed should be increased (range may be reduced) and deep stalls avoided. Elevator trim may need adjustment, so test flights are highly recommended. Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!