How to Make the Jetstream Paper Airplane

Fast, long range and aerodynamic, the Jetstream is a miniature "drone cruiser" paper airplane developed from the popularSuper StratoScout.

The Jetstream was designed to revisit the T-tail configuration, which I have anticipated will be used with nascent projects. To speed things along and focus on the stabilizers' design, I developed the aircraft from the proven Super StratoScout. The Jetstream retained the design of the Super StratoScout, minus the tail. Flight testing showed the aircraft to be a good performer, so I decided that it would serve as a testbed and be published.

TAA USAF Designation: D435-1

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--13 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). 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 stabilizers, spars and counterweight 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 (2 boxes of chord at the root, by 6 boxes in width, with a leading edge sweep of 2 boxes of chord eliminated every 5 boxes away from the fuselage root (past the inboard most box) and a trailing edge sweep of 1 box of chord every 6 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; Stapling

Cut out your fuselage and fold the counterweight into the fuselage. Fold down the spars and landing gear, followed by the horizontal stabilizers. Apply tape where designated in the photographs. Cut away the portion of fuselage below the solid diagonal line as shown. Apply one staple where designated in the area of the counterweight folds and then tape the rear fuselage as directed in the eighth photograph.

Step 4: Applying the Wings

Cut out and unfold your Jetstream's wings. Once this is done, align the airframe with the wing and secure the wings to the spars with tape. Cutoff all excess tape and tape the leading edge of the wing to the leading edge root extension at its joint as pictured. This will complete your aircraft.

Step 5: Flight

The Jetstream cruises quickly while maintaining an excellent glide ratio; origami aviators with experience with similar Super StratoScout should be able to easily transition to the Jetstream. Even to those entirely new to miniature paper airplanes, the Jetstream is a plane which one can quickly learn to work with.

Launches should be done at neutral or positive attitudes at moderate to high speeds. Test flights should be conducted to see what trim (if any) is required. Additional applicable surfaces include ailerons, elevators, flaps, air brakes and a trimmable rudder. Enjoy!