How to Make the StarAsteroid Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and nimble, the StarAsteroid is a tiny "drone fighter" paper airplane. It is a smaller complement to aircraft like the Fang and Starfighter.

The StarAsteroid was developed as a smaller aircraft with lower material requirements and complexity than its larger brethren. To this end, the airframe of the Meteor was recycled, as was the wing design of the Asteroid. These steps were taken to give the aircraft low wing loading and lower complexity, as some origami aviators may have made these two other designs previously. Flight testing went well and the aircraft proved itself worthy of publication in short order and was quickly earmarked an instructable slot.

TAA USAF Designation: D375-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Scissors

Ruler

Tape

Pencil

Stapler

Step 2: Begin Construction

Fold your paper in half so that half a box is at the crease line. Make two marks 9 boxes from one another and mark out the fuselage as shown. The counterweight should be made as a 2 by 3 rectangle, with canards and the vertical stabilizer behind it.. Measure 1 box forward along the half box line, 4 boxes forward.

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 (a leading edge sweep of 2 boxes of chord eliminated every 3 boxes of span, and a trailing edge of 1 box of chord eliminated every 3 boxes of span).

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

Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches

Step 3: Making the Fuselage

Cut out your fuselage and fold its counterweights and canards into place. Once this is done, fold along the vertical dotted line and cut along the solid horizontal line. Once the cut has been made, undo the fold. At this point, cut the extra vertical fin off and tape where designated.

Step 4: Applying the Wings; Taping

Cut out the wings, and then fold down the wingtips as shown. Pull the wing through the slit in the fuselage, then apply tape. Flatten the wings and canards to where they have no anhedral deflection. Apply one staple in the area of the counterweight. This will complete your StarAsteroid.

Step 5: Flight

The StarAsteroid is nimble but generally simple to us and stable. It can be operated by even those with little experience with drone paper airplanes. Launches should be at neutral or positive attitudes at medium to high speed. Launches can be done at a positive attitude, but launch speed should be increased (range may be reduced). Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!