How to Make the AeroScout Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and small, the AeroScout is an aerodynamic "drone cruiser" meant to complement the similar StratoScout.

The AeroScout's development was provoked by my desire to create a successor to the StratoScout that kept its excellent performance, as well as some inspirations to pursue a new simple swept wing drone cruiser by another maker with his own design.

The AeroScout was created by redesigning the StratoScout with a new rear fuselage to eliminate the need for the nose staple. To do this, I explored application of a tail design similar to those of the SkyTomahawk and Wren. With the Wren's tail design used in conjunction with the StratoScout's forward fuselage and wing design, immediate success was had. The aircraft proved itself highly capable and worthy of publication in testing rapidly.

TAA USAF Designation: D401-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Scissors

Ruler

Tape

Pencil

Optional:

Stapler (a staple can be fitted in the nose if desired)

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--12 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). Use a ruler to make a straight line with the length of 12 boxes directly up 1 row of boxes from the two marks you just made. Then make the stabilizers, spars and counterweight as shown. To avoid confusion, one line you will cut along has been omitted from the photograph.

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 chord at the root, by 5 boxes in width, with a leading edge sweep of 1 box of chord eliminated every 2 boxes away from the fuselage root and a trailing edge sweep of 1 box of chord every 5 boxes from the root). Then cut the wing out.

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. Once this is done, fold along the vertical dotted line then fold the airplane in half along the center crease once again. Fold along the dotted horizontal lines then tape where indicated.

Step 4: Applying the Wings

Cut out your AeroScout's wings and lay them beneath the fuselage. Apply tape where designated to secure them to the fuselage. Apply tape to the LERX joint where noted. The outer stabilizers should be perpendicular to the fuselage while the inner fins should be canted outward at roughly 45 to 60 degrees. This will complete the aircraft.

Step 5: Flight

The AeroScout is fast and highly aerodynamic, sharing the same launch configuration as other similar designs. Launches should be conducted at moderate to high speeds at neutral or positive attitudes. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, ailerons, rudders and elevators. A staple may also be fitted in the counterweight area if extra weight in the nose is desired, (though it would change the aircraft's balance). Enjoy!