How to Make the Stratowarrior Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and simple, the Stratowarrior is a large paper airplane designed to supplant the similar Super Thunderwarrior. Origami aviators of all skill levels can easily find a use for this very capable aircraft.

The Stratowarrior is a development of the Thunderwarrior paper airplane, with which it maintains a great deal of commonality. Due in part to sharing much of its design with the Thunderwarrior, the Stratowarrior is a tame, stable airplane that should perform well, even at the hands of inexperienced origami aviators. While the aircraft is capable of flying very fast, its low wing loading enables excellent low speed handling, giving the Stratowarrior an even wider margin of operation, and thus, still more forgiveness in handling. Owing to this, prototyping and flight testing were initiated and completed in the three days prior to its publication.

TAA USAF Designation: A192-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
2 Pieces of 8.5 by 11 inch Paper
Tape
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors

Step 2: Length and Corner Folding on the Front Airframe

Begin by folding one piece of paper in half length-wise. Then pull the corners into the center. Then pull the diagonal folds of the previous corner folds toward the center.

Step 3: Nose Folding and Wing Folding Preparation

Fold your aircraft in half with its airfoil folds on the folds' inside. Then measure 1 inch above the center fold on the fuselage at the trailing edge.  Proceed to the nose and move backwards from the tip until the measure between center fold and the leading edge is 1 inch. Unfold the paper and pull the tip of the nose back until the point is reached. Then fold the fuselage in half again.

Step 4: Width and Corner Folding on the Back Airframe

Fold the paper in half along its width. Then fold the corners down to the center. Once both are folded, unfold them. Then pull the outer edges of the paper down to the crease of the previous corner folds. Then fold again along the first corner folds.

Step 5: Merging and Taping the Two Airframes; Ventral Winglet Folding

Make a mark 1 inch above the center of the fuselage. Push the second airframe up to the back of the airfoil of the first airframe. Fold the two up along the center with the clean sides remaining outward. Apply tape where designated, then make the marks 1 inch inward from the rear wingtips of the forward fuselage's rear edges as shown. Fold the wing down as shown at this mark on both sides after applying tape just inboard of them. Once the ventral wingtips have been folded down, flip the airframe over and apply tape to the airframe joints near the tips as designated.

Step 6: Wing and Dorsal Winglet Folding; Taping

Mark 1 inch above the center fold along the trailing edge of the fuselage. Fold the wing down so the root intersects with the marks you have previously made. The trailing edge of the wing should be parallel with the fuselage. Make marks 1 inch in from the wingtips along the trailing edge, then fold and crease at these marks; the winglets' trailing edges should be parallel with that of the wing.

Fold the wings up and from the underside, measure 1 inch from the wing root along the trailing edge and make a mark. Measure a further 0.75 inches from this mark and make another. From each of these, measure 0.375  inches forward, perpendicular to the trailing edge.

Apply tape where designated to complete your Stratowarrior.

Step 7: Flight

The Stratowarrior is a fast, sturdy paper airplane with a large wing. As a result, for long range, high speed flights, tosses of moderate speed are optimal. Launches should be conducted at neutral or negative attitude only, unless using a faster throw for a positive attitude launch (which may result in reduced range). Elevator trim should be increased for slower flights and decreased for faster flights (amounts of deflection should be determined by test flights). Additional surfaces applicable include slats, flaps, flaperons, spoilers, spoilerons, ailerons, elevators, elevons, air brakes, a bomb bay and an "electronic warfare" tail. Enjoy!