Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Balsa Glider Construction Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Balsa Wood Very high strength to weight ratio. Easy to cut and sand Grainy Available in strips, sheets, or blocks Not very durable for a fuselage… spruce is better. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Glider Components Fuselage Wings Horizontal Stabilizer Vertical Tail (or Stabilizer) Nose Weight Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Familiarize yourself with the plan Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Familiarize yourself with the plan Components Dimensions Materials Outlines vs. Cuts Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Building on a single sheet Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Building on a single sheet Wing Vertical Tail Horizontal Stabilizer Leave extra space at these locations if material allows. Notice the grain direction: Always spanwise! Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Marking the fuselage Cut for Length Wing Location Center of Gravity Neutral Point Horizontal Stabilizer Vertical Tail Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Choosing a Wing Planform Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Choosing a Wing Planform Elliptical wings might be great for full size aircraft, but they are very challenging for small gliders. Straight leading edges tend to work well for small gliders. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Cut out all of the pieces Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Cut out all of the pieces Cut the wing with extra span if material allows. (See later note for reason) Cut out stabilizers and sand leading and trailing edges with minimal rounding. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Shaping the Wing Profile Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Shaping the Wing Profile The leading edge should have minimal rounding. The trailing edge needs to have a taper on the top only. Use a sanding block and the edge of a surface for uniform sanding. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Adding the wing Center the wing on the fuselage. Glue it on straight and square to the fuselage… this is critical. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Making a strong bond Traditional method of lots of glue on an edge then stick it together is weak. Light bond with reinforcing fillets increases the glue surface area and thus the strength of the bond. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing One Piece Stabilizer Cut out the wedge from the glider plan. Trace on to and cut out the wedge from a scrap of fuselage. Glue the wedge (not the stabilizer) to the top of the fuselage. Direction depends on tail or canard mount. Front Back Side of Fuselage HS Wedge Stabilizer Canard Position HS Front back Tail Position HS Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Add the horizontal stabilizer Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Add the horizontal stabilizer One piece stabilizer Stronger Only possible if mounted somewhere away from the vertical stabilizer. Two piece stabilizer Weaker Mount anywhere else Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Check alignment Hold the stabilizer on the wedge and check from the front or back that it is parallel to the wing. If not, sand the wedge slightly and recheck. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Glue the Stabilizer Glue to the TOP of the fuselage. Align the lowest edge with the end of the wedge so it contacts the fuselage. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Two Piece Stabilizer Cut out the wedge from the glider plan. Trace an angled line onto the side of the fuselage. Direction depends on tail or canard mount. Front Back Side of Fuselage HS Wedge Canard Position HS Tail Position HS Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Check alignment Cut the stabilizer in two. Doing one side at a time… Glue one half to each side. Canard Position HS Tail Position Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Glue the Stabilizer Glue to the SIDE of the fuselage. Make certain that each half is straight and square to the fuselage. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Balance the Glider Place a pencil on the table top and put the glider on top of it with the C.G. directly over the pencil. Add clay to the nose until the glider balances at the C.G. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007

Balsa Glider Construction Aerospace EngineeringTM Unit 3 – Lesson 3.1 Glider Design, Construction and Testing Balance the Glider Hold the glider on fingertips placed at the nose and the tail. Add clay to the wingtips until the glider balances at the fuselage. Project Lead The Way, Inc. Copyright 2007