Designed as a replacement for the Super Orion drone-fighter paper airplane, the Gnat is an even smaller paper airplane with a semi-tailless configuration for minimal size, weight and drag. In addition to serving as its successor, the Gnat has also taken the Super Orion's title as my smallest aircraft. It has a wingspan of only 1.25 inches, a length of just 1.75 inches and a height of a mere 1.5 inches.
The design period for the Gnat began a couple weeks after the Super Orion was posted. During this time, I considered several potential shapes. Over time, the horizontal stabilizers were gradually reduced in size and eventually omitted entirely. The wing was retained for its commonality with the Super Orion and many other contemporaries, where it is more commonly used as a horizontal stabilizer. Eventually, flight testing of the Gnat was begun and the aircraft performed excellently. The aircraft proved itself a suitable successor for the slightly larger Super Orion and I decided it was a suitable aircraft to make an instructable on.
Just like the Super Orion, the Gnat is very adaptable, and is suitable for use as a fighter-interceptor, research testbed, and stunt airplane.
Some usages for educators could include studies of:
TAA USAF Designation: D194-1
The design period for the Gnat began a couple weeks after the Super Orion was posted. During this time, I considered several potential shapes. Over time, the horizontal stabilizers were gradually reduced in size and eventually omitted entirely. The wing was retained for its commonality with the Super Orion and many other contemporaries, where it is more commonly used as a horizontal stabilizer. Eventually, flight testing of the Gnat was begun and the aircraft performed excellently. The aircraft proved itself a suitable successor for the slightly larger Super Orion and I decided it was a suitable aircraft to make an instructable on.
Just like the Super Orion, the Gnat is very adaptable, and is suitable for use as a fighter-interceptor, research testbed, and stunt airplane.
Some usages for educators could include studies of:
- Glide ratio
- Hangtime versus other aircraft
- Weight and balance
TAA USAF Designation: D194-1
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Required:
1 Piece of 10.5 by 8 inch graph paper (4 boxes per inch)
Tape
Stapler
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
1 Piece of 10.5 by 8 inch graph paper (4 boxes per inch)
Tape
Stapler
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
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3
SN1P3RL0RD
says:
Oct 26, 2012. 6:59 PMReply
Built it. I like that it's easy and quick to build.
227
OrigamiAirEnforcer (author)
in reply to Oct 26, 2012. 8:40 PMReplyThose two traits are some of my primary objectives when designing aircraft.
1
papercrafter408
says:
Jun 11, 2012. 5:44 AMReplyoh man! i sorta forgot about the Me-163! but i still think of the small gliding triangle, the Lippisch-DM1
1
papercrafter408
says:
Jun 10, 2012. 6:54 PMReplyit reminds me of the Lippisch-DM1!
227
OrigamiAirEnforcer (author)
in reply to Jun 10, 2012. 7:02 PMReplyI think it looks a little more like the Me 163 Komet myself...
3
robotman9
says:
Mar 13, 2012. 10:46 AMReply
This is a little confusing but its cool!!!!
Tantrax
says:
Mar 4, 2012. 10:41 AMReply
Very Nice for it's small design!
227
OrigamiAirEnforcer (author)
in reply to Mar 4, 2012. 12:06 PMReplyThanks!
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