What Makes a Good Glider Louie Turek aerospace_pilot@yahoo.com

Fundamentals Wing Shape The Importance of a Tail Balance!

Wing Shape Leading edge Chord Trailing edge

Long, thin wings- Good for gliders Smooth airfoil shape is essential for good gliding performance

Wings must be strong enough

Wing Structure Foam wing Skeleton with covering

Wing Structure Folded material with spar inside

Wing sweep- Bad idea for gliders

Dihedral- Helps with Stability

The Tail is VERY Important!

No Tail Means No Stability

Proper Sizing and Balance- The rule of fingers Vertical tail- 10X smaller than wing area Horizontal tail- 5X smaller than wing area

Canards, efficient but possibly unstable

Flying wing, more efficient but almost guaranteed unstable

Forces on a Glider Thrust?????? Lift Gravity is source of thrust Drag Weight

Balance – Center of Gravity Body length ~ same as wingspan Wing ~ ¼ back along body Long Balance Point- Center of Gravity Short

Wrap Up Wing Shape- smooth and broad, but strong enough Tail surfaces- Far back and rule of fingers, lightweight tail Balance!

Wrap Up Check that glider balances Use ballast to correct flight path Practice throwing technique

Rules Review Minimum 24 inch wingspan, maximum 4”x4” body No wheels allowed, no kit materials of any kind allowed, no paper airplanes Must carry 16 marbles, sealed in place in sandwich bag Weight between 6 and 10 ounces (including 2.1 ounces of marbles) Total of 4 flights, score is total distance glided If the glider breaks apart, score reduced 25% 21

Suggestions/Things to Think About Hobby/craft stores for balsa wood Hobby stores have lead edge surface balsa Marbles available at craft stores as well Small balsa gliders for practice Don’t waste material on unneeded things Don’t bother with slot construction

Good luck! Louie Turek aerospace_pilot@yahoo.com