How to Make the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Paper Airplane

The Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) C-130 Hercules is a tactical airlift cargo aircraft first developed for the United States in the 1950s. With continual upgrades, the C-130 has remained in front line service with the United States and dozens of other countries across the globe. With its long legacy, I decided to create a replica of the aircraft as a tribute to it.

This replica of the C-130 Hercules was developed quickly and largely conventional in design (as its real life counterpart is), though I was required to explore new design techniques to replicate the Hercules' tail correctly. The project was soon put together and a prototype was made, based upon the C-130A. The aircraft flew well and the replica was proven capable of flying; on that basis, I approved it for publication. As with my Boeing B-52 Stratofortressreplica, I omitted the engines for reasons of simplicity.

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Stapler

Step 2: Begin Construction

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--11 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). 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. Make the vertical stabilizer, spars, counterweight and nose as shown.

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 (2 boxes of constant chord at the root along the leading and trailing edges; measure 4 boxes outboard of the constant chord boxes and measure 0.625 inches back as shown. Along the trailing edge, a forward sweep of 1 box of decay along the 5 boxes of wingspan should be made. Make the parallel wingtip mark as shown. This will complete the wings.

For the horizontal stabilizers, measure 1.5 boxes along the fold in the paper. Measure 1 box above each mark and mark. Between these two marks, make a dotted line. For the leading edges, the sweep should have the stabilizer decay 1 box of chord for every 4 boxes of span. For the trailing edges, measure a forward sweep of 1 box of decay for every 6 boxes of span. Make a parallel line to the fold lines where shown. This will complete the horizontal stabilizers.

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 into place. Cut along the solid lines and cut off the extra vertical fin and nose where shown. Fold along the dotted horizontal lines and then tape where indicated.

Step 4: Applying the Wings and Horizontal Stabilizers; Stapling

Cut out your Hercules' wings and lay them beneath the fuselage. Align the center lines of the wings with those of the spars. Apply tape where designated to secure them to the fuselage.

Cut out and fold the horizontal stabilizers as shown. Aligning their line markings with those of the vertical stabilizers, tape them to the vertical stabilizer on each side as shown. In addition to applying tape to the connecting portions, apply tape to the undersides of the horizontal stabilizers to secure them to the fuselage as well.

Cut along the solid line beneath the tail, then apply two staples (one from each side) in the area of the counterweight. This will complete your Hercules replica.

Step 5: Flight

The C-130 Hercules replica is a docile flyer and is comparable in performance to many of my similarly shaped drone cruiser designs. The aircraft should be launched at neutral attitude at medium speed. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, ailerons, elevators and a rudder. While you can decorate the aircraft, this can substantially reduce its performance. Enjoy!