How to Make the AeroJavelin Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and simple, the AeroJavelin is a tiny "drone fighter" paper airplane meant to complement the similar AeroGnat.

Per viewers' wishes, keeping the AeroJavelin simple was a design goal. As such, it reused existing parts: the airframe design of the Firefly was retained while the main wing design was drawn from the AeroMosquito. Flight testing showed this pairing of parts to create a capable dart paper airplane, and so the AeroJavelin was cleared for publication.

TAA USAF Designation: D430-1

Step 1: Materials

Required:
1 Piece of 8 by 10.5 inch graph paper

Scissors

Ruler

Tape

Pencil

Stapler

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--10 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). Use a ruler to make a straight line with the length of 10 boxes directly up 1 row of boxes from the two marks you just made. Then make the stabilizers, spars and counterweight as shown. The airframe should appear as it does in the first photograph when you have completed its layout.

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 (a leading edge sweep of 1 boxes of chord eliminated every 3 boxes of span, and a trailing edge of 1 box of chord eliminated every 3 boxes of span). Measure 0.5 boxes from the wingtip and make a dotted line parallel to the fold.

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 of the tail then cut away the portion shown. After doing this, fold the fin forward along the dotted line. Fold along the dotted vertical line in the center of the fuselage and then cut along the solid horizontal line. After making the cut, unfold the fuselage and apply tape where designated. Fold the horizontal stabilizers down afterward.

Step 4: Applying the Wings; Stapling

Cut out the wings and pull them through the fuselage as shown. Apply tape where designated and fold the winglets down as pictured. Apply one staple from each side in the area of the counterweights to complete your AeroJavelin.

Step 5: Flight

The AeroJavelin is very much a dart, and so it will tend to fly where it is pointed with limited deviation. Simply point it where you want it to go and it'll head for it.

Launches should be done at moderate to high speeds at neutral or positive attitudes. Additional surfaces include flaps, ailerons, elevators and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!