Introduction: How to Make the StarHunter Paper Airplane

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About: Paper airplane maker: 400+ designs so far and more in development!

Very fast, long range and capable, the StarHunter is a sleek dart paper airplane meant as a high speed interceptor. It is intended to replace the venerable Ultraceptor series.

The StarHunter was developed from the Predator paper airplane with the shape of the StarHunter based upon the highly popular but larger Hunter and AeroHunter designs. By basing the StarHunter upon the Predator, a large amount of commonality was maintained and thus easier construction for those already familiar with making that aircraft. Flight testing proved the prototype StarHunter to be highly capable and on that basis it was cleared for publication after completing its trials.

TAA USAF Designation: F417-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper

Tape

Pencil

Ruler

Optional:

Scissors (for additional surfaces only)

Step 2: Length and Fourth Folding

Fold the paper in half along its length, then fold the outer length edges of the paper into the crease on each side.

Step 3: Width Folding

Align the length fourth fold creases with themselves as you pull one width edge to the other, as shown in the second photograph and then unfold it. Pull the same edge back into the crease you have just made to make a width fourth fold and then unfold as seen in the fourth and fifth photographs. Pull the width edge inward to this second crease and make another crease as shown in the eighth and ninth photographs.

At the outer corners of the paper, fold the corners in so the outer most width crease is aligned with the edge of the folds as pictured. Restore the width crease made earlier as shown in the eleventh photograph.

Step 4: Airfoil Folding

Pull the corners of the paper with the folded edge down to the center crease on each side. After making creases for these folds, pull the new creases themselves in over the center crease. Unfold these new diagonal folds and pull the outer edges into the diagonal creases on each side as shown. Pull the folds' back outward as shown in the ninth and tenth photographs to prepare them for the next step.

Step 5: Airfoil Folding

Reverse the direction of the last two folds you made on the previous step. After doing this, pull the rear portion forward. Stop at the outer edge and the rear edge of the inner edge as shown. Pull the outer edge of this paper back over the crease and fold. Pull the crease that has no resulted back over the first crease you made on this step. With this done, tuck the paper into itself as shown in the sixth and seventh photographs.

Repeat this process on the other side.

After making all the preceding folds and progressing to the fourteenth photograph, pull the outer diagonal leading edges on each side into line with the creases as shown in the fourteen to seventeenth photographs. This will complete the airfoils.

Step 6: Canard Folding

Fold the airfoils down along the existent creases as shown in the first and second photographs. After doing this, pull the overhanging portions of paper back above the center crease by way of the existent fold line at it. These portions you fold up on each side will become the canards.

Lay out the paper flat and allow the diamond to be spread out as shown in the fifth photograph. Pull the tip backward until the apexes of the diamond are reached on each side. After doing this, pull the tip forward again until it reaches an existing line on itself and crease it at that point. Proceed to then tuck this portion of the paper in as pictured.

Step 7: Wing Folding

Fold the paper up in half along the center crease, then unfold and lay it down flat as shown in the second photograph.

Without creasing the airfoils, reverse the angling of the fourth folds and pull them inward as shown in the third and fourth photographs. Pull the paper inward and reverse the airfoil folds as well and crease them, as shown in the fourth photograph.

Once you have folded the outer portions of the wing back over the central portion of the paper, fold along the center crease as shown in the fifth photograph. With the paper folded like this, pull the other wing portions outward on each side until the forward side is limited by the airfoil folds and the rear edge by the fold of the paper. Repeat on the other side. This process is shown in the sixth to eighth photographs.

Once you have made these folds, you must again reverse the placement of the airfoil folds, as shown in the ninth through twelfth photographs.

Step 8: Nose and Canard Folding

Pull the blunt forward edge of the nose back to the trailing edge. After doing this, pull the nose forward again at the existing crease in the paper, as shown in the second photograph.

Once you have reestablished this crease line, return the nose to the trailing edge and pull the corners of the leading edge of the paper into the crease as depicted in the fourth photograph. With this done, pull the nose forward again.

After the nose folding has been done, fold the paper in half along the center crease once more. While keeping the leading edges of the canards aligned with that of nose, fold the canards on each side down.

Step 9: Wing and Winglet Folding; Taping

In preparation for making the wings, measure 1 inch above the center crease at the trailing edge and make a mark. To prepare the paper for making the winglets, measure 1 inch from the wingtip along the trailing edge of the outer wing panel and make a mark. After doing this, measure 1.75 inches from the wingtip along the leading edge of the outer wing panel.

Fold the wing down at the mark and make sure the trailing edge of the inner portion of the wing aligns with the trailing edge of the fuselage. Repeat on the other side.

After folding the wings down, unfold the wings and make a fold connecting the two marks you made previously. Repeat on the other side.

Apply tape where noted in the photographs to complete your StarHunter.

Step 10: Flight

The StarHunter's heavy nose and (relatively) small wings give it good stability and it will tend to fly where it is pointed. Origami aviators who have experience with the aircraft like the Predator, late model Vulcanvariants and Ultraceptors should be able to transition to the StarHunter.

Launches should be conducted at neutral or positive attitudes at moderate to high speeds. Test flights should be conducted to see what trim (if any) is necessary. Additional applicable surfaces include flaps, air brakes, rudders and an "electronic warfare" tail.