How to Make the StarSerpent Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and small, the StarSerpent is an easy to make "drone fighter" paper airplane designed to complement the SkyStinger.

Following the development of the SkyStinger, I decided to adapt its airframe to accommodate the Turbo Serpent's wing. Although I imagined performance would be comparable between the two, I still felt the prospect of a conventional but capable aircraft was worth pursuing. The production of the prototype aircraft went quickly and testing showed it to be an able aircraft. Though the aircraft was indeed comparable to the SkyStinger in performance, I still felt it worthy of publication as an alternative for prospective origami aviators.

TAA USAF Designation: D405-1

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Stapler

Fold your paper in half so that half a box is at the crease line. Make a mark, then measure 11 boxes back and make another mark. Replicate the marking pattern shown in the photograph. Once all is marked out, cut out the fuselage.

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 boxes in length by 6 boxes in width, and a swept portion in front of this box of 3 boxes of span eliminated every 4 boxes of chord toward the front of the fuselage). 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

Begin constructing your fuselage by folding the counterweights into the fuselage. Once they have been folded, unfold the fuselage and cut off the right vertical stabilizer. Once this is done, restore the fold. After doing this, fold the fuselage along the vertical dotted line two boxes aft of the counterweight folds. After making the cut and restoring the fuselage from its folded state, fold the vertical stabilizer forward along the dotted line that indicates the center of what will be the slot for the horizontal stabilizers, then cut. Tape where designated.

Cut out the wings and slide them through the forward slit in the fuselage. Fold them up on each side and apply tape where designated. Once you have done this, fold the winglets down as shown.

Slide the horizontal stabilizers through the slit in vertical stabilizer and apply tape to secure them on each side. After doing this, cut off the portion of fuselage beneath the diagonal line. Apply one staple in the area of the counterweight. This will complete your StarSerpent.

Because of its conventional configuration and simplicity, the StarSerpent flies quite easily and predictably. Launches should be at moderate to high speed at neutral or (slightly) positive attitudes. Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!