How to Make the Turbo Meteor Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and nimble, the Turbo Meteor is an enlarged but still tiny development of the Meteor "drone-fighter" paper airplane. The aircraft's design is quite simple, as is its handling in flight.

The Turbo Meteor's development was initiated to take advantage of the good handling displayed in the design of the smaller Meteor with a larger wing, in hopes of longer range and greater endurance. The prototype was designed quickly, drawing off existing wing and fuselage shapes (the fuselage size was only extended from that of the Meteor). Flight testing was entered and completed quickly, as the aircraft showed itself to be an excellent performer. I approved it for publication shortly thereafter.

TAA USAF Designation: D371-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Stapler

Step 2: Begin Construction

Fold your paper in half so that half a box is at the crease line. Make two marks 10 boxes from one another and mark out the fuselage as shown. The counterweight should be made as a 2 by 3 rectangle, with canards and the vertical stabilizer behind it.. Measure 1 box forward along the half box line and and make a mark; then make a solid horizontal line 5 boxes from it 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 (1 boxes in length by 8 boxes in width, and a swept portion in front of this box of 1 box eliminated every box toward the front of the fuselage). Make a dotted line parallel with the center fold line half a box in from the wingtip. 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 off the extra vertical fin. Once this is done, fold along the vertical dotted line and cut along the solid horizontal line. Once the cut has been made, undo the fold. Fold down the canards and tape where designated.

Step 4: Applying the Wings; Taping and Stapling

Cut out the wings, fold down the wingtips as shown and pull the wing through the slit in the fuselage, then apply tape. Flatten the wings and canards to where they have no anhedral deflection. Apply one staple in the area of the counterweight folds. This will complete your Turbo Meteor.

Step 5: Flight

The simplicity of the Turbo Meteor extends beyond construction; the aircraft is quite forgiving, and can be operated by even those with little experience with drone paper airplanes. Launches should be done at neutral or positive attitudes at medium to high speed. Launches can be done at a positive attitude, but launch speed should be increased (range may be reduced). Additional applicable surfaces include slats, flaps, flaperons, elevators, ailerons, spoilers, spoilerons, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!