Introduction: How to Make the Simple Voyager Paper Airplane
The Simple Voyager design was developed to meet a requirement sent to me by a teacher who wished to show her students a practical demonstration of shapes and area calculation in the real world. She had determined that the most suitable way to accomplish this while still intriguing students was utilize paper airplanes. When contacted, I suggested that miniature paper airplanes would be ideal, and she agreed. After some discussion on what I would need to make, it was agreed that a small, easy-to-make drone paper airplane would be best.
My design choices in making the Simple Voyager were quite elementary. The SkyVoyager's design was used as a primary basis, though some modifications were made. The constant chord wing was retained for its ability to be easily crafted and quickly augmented if desired. To add to the aircraft's operational simplicity, the design was made to be a tandem biplane--a configuration known for good glide ratios and pitch stability. After only 15 minutes of tinkering with this design, the first prototype Simple Voyager was flown and performed excellently. It had been a wonderful aircraft to built.
As always, I am happy to assist educators, should they have any questions, comments or requests. If they have a lesson plan that they'd like to find an aircraft for, I'm sure I can be of assistance.
Some potential experiments possible with this airframe include:
- Glide ratio
- Weight and balance
- Hangtime versus other aircraft
TAA USAF Designation: D233-1
Step 1: Materials
Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper
Tape
Stapler
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
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--13 full boxes apart. Use a ruler to make a straight line with the length of 13 boxes directly up 1 row of boxes from the two marks you just made. Then make the vertical stabilizer, spars, landing gear and counterweight as shown. Follow the photograph's markings.
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 (3 by 8 boxes). Then mark out the horizontal stabilizers by following the pattern shown.
Solid lines indicate places to cut. Dotted lines indicate fold lines.
Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches
Step 3: Making the Fuselage
Fold the fuselage as indicated along its dotted lines. Cut off the second vertical stabilizer. Once the spars have been folded, fold and tuck the counterweight into the fuselage. Then fold the vertical stabilizer and make a cut along its solid line. Tape where indicated.
Step 4: Applying the Horizontal Stabilizers
Put your horizontal stabilizers through their given attachment point. Fold them up and then apply tape to their undersides, attaching them to the fuselage.
Step 5: Applying the Wing; Stapling
Cut its wing out and unfold it. Flip your airframe inverted, align it with the center of the wing and apply tape to the spars. Then join the fuselage and the wing at the spars. Once you have mated the wing and airframe, apply one staple to the airframe around the area of the counterweight. After being stapled, your Simple Voyager is complete.
Step 6: Flight
Keeping with its simple construction, the Simple Voyager is very easy to operate and fly. For flights of the longest range, launch at a neutral or negative attitude at moderate speed. Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, elevators, a trimmable rudder and air brakes. Enjoy!
