How to Make the Super SkyHornet Paper Airplane

Fast, small and simple, the Super SkyHornet is a miniature paper airplane designed as a more capable successor to the older SkyHornet. The Super SkyHornet has lower wing loading and is equipped with leading edge root extensions (LERX) for better handling.

The concept of the Super SkyHornet was based around that of a new aircraft combining the traits of both the SkyHornet and the smaller Locust drone interceptors. The primary goals of this effort were to design an aircraft with fewer materials used; less weight; and more simplicity in production. All of this goals were met by the Super SkyHornet, which triumphed.

TAA USAF Designation: D280-1

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--12 full boxes apart. 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 rudder and counterweight as shown. Follow the photograph markings. Then, mark out the wing spars and landing gear. 1 boxes back from the beginning of this line, make a dotted line vertically. 1 box in from the back, measure 2 boxes forward and make a solid line 2 boxes long. 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 box of constant chord at the root, with a 1 by 4 rectangular trailing edge behind a 3 by 3 box area of wing with a sweep of 1 boxes of chord eliminated every box away from 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

Cut out and unfold the fuselage and cut the right vertical stabilizer off. Then restore the fold. Fold the counterweight into itself as shown. Then fold the fuselage forward at the vertical line beneath the vertical stabilizer. Once you have made the cut along the marked line, unfold. Apply tape where designated, and cut off any excess.

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.

Once you have finished with the wings, 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 Super SkyHornet is a simple aircraft to fly, and should be easy for new aviators to work with after a few test flights. Launches should can be done at any attitude at a moderate to fast speed. Adding dihedral to the horizontal stabilizers may be necessary. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, flaperons, slats, ailerons, elevators, spoilers, spoilerons, a trimmable rudder and air brakes. Enjoy!