Abstract: To gain large area surface gas discharge plasmas, an atmospheric-pressure surface discharge plasma actuator with multi-electrode configuration was designed. At a constant power supply frequency, the discharge characteristics of the plasma actuators, such as the Lissajous figure of discharge and the parameters of power and power area density during the quasi-steady discharges, were researched experimentally. The experimental measurements show that, by employing the designed multi-electrode surface gas discharge plasma actuator, the large area surface gas discharges can be obtained with a lower area density of power supply.