Elastic Launched Glider B

[jander14indoor]

Warning, this is probably my weakest area in the flying events, getting a good transition on a CLG. And frankly, after building light, it is the KEY to this event. I can do it sometimes, but...

That said, a little searching on the internet found this launch technique video at the bottom of this page. http://www.soarmd.org/science-olympiad/11-wright-stuff
And this guy DOES know what he's doing.
Another video here: http://amaflightschool.org/video/how-fl ... nch-glider
How to build here: http://www.amaflightschool.org/diy/how- ... e-olympiad
Another hint page: https://sites.google.com/site/guvenyilm ... ads/glider
An excellent all round site for gliders: http://www.amaglider.com/

I found another useful tip. Until you get the transition right, practice outside where the glider will land in grass. When you consistently get a good transition, move indoors. Drastically reduces the number of broken gliders while learning to get good, consistent transitions.

Do it on a windless day. You'll lose a few gliders to HUNG, the god of free flight, but less than you'll break in a gym.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[1nxtmonster]

Thanks. I lightened the glider and moved the COG to the middle of the front wing. It's not perfect but definately better.

[erikb]

So ive been having some trouble with the glider. It will coast across a room, but when launched up into the air it always just falls most of the way to the ground before it resumes gliding. My best time is like 4 seconds. Any ideas?

Here are some tips.

First, find the smallest width rubber band you can. Most of the time i see students using rubber bands that are about 1/8 in wide. The wider the rubber band the more sensitive it is to force. The thinner the rubber the more precise you can control the force applied by the pull. In other words a rubber band that is 1/8 wide the difference in pull between too much force and just the right amount is about 1/16" of an inch. The ones we used were between .025" to .045" wide. That will make your launches more predictable.

If you can launch a glider across a room and get it to circle back to the ground. Not a straight line but an arc. You can get it to transition at any height.

Start off by first launching it just above flat. 5 degrees above horizontal. (the Pitch) Do this several times. Each time pull back the same and keep the pitch the same every time but roll the plane ever so slightly left and right. Take notes, document the behavior. As you play with it like this, it will at one point go up then gently turn and circle down. Document the behavior it has when rolled slightly left and right of the gentle glide transition, This will help you solve transition issues as you aim higher.

Now you can start transitioning higher by moving up slowly the pitch. And you will find that there is an interaction between the pitch, roll and pull that allows you to transition at every height.

If you keep the pull constant, you will notice that as your pitch increases the roll will change and that change will be predictable. So if you take accurate notes you will have a very good idea of how far to roll the plane as you move your pitch angle up.

Keep in mind that the pull if far more sensitive to change and is less predictable because as the glider travels faster the wood will stress and change shape.

[N1njA_DuDepic]

I think freedom flight models are the best.

[wlsguy]

I think freedom flight models are the best.

Based on data from Nationals for the past 2 years, there is no "BEST".
Of the 60 teams at Nationals, Freedom Flight Models have finished as high as 5th and as low as 59th. They are distributed in a normal pattern throughout the rankings.

The key points are:
1) Build consistent- Too many models were sloppy or had warps or issues which limited performance
2) Practice- If you expect to build a model and suddenly win, you are mistaken. This is not a contest of who can build the best glider. Taking and using data to improve your launch technique is what wins or loses competitions
3) Build Light- As with all of the flying events, if everything else is the same, the lighter glider will win. Just one word of caution, if you build so light your glider breaks every time your practice, your data or glider will have the issues from 1+2 above and you will perform poorly.

Thanks,
John Hance

[N1njA_DuDepic]

I think freedom flight models are the best.

Based on data from Nationals for the past 2 years, there is no "BEST".
Of the 60 teams at Nationals, Freedom Flight Models have finished as high as 5th and as low as 59th. They are distributed in a normal pattern throughout the rankings.

The key points are:
1) Build consistent- Too many models were sloppy or had warps or issues which limited performance
2) Practice- If you expect to build a model and suddenly win, you are mistaken. This is not a contest of who can build the best glider. Taking and using data to improve your launch technique is what wins or loses competitions
3) Build Light- As with all of the flying events, if everything else is the same, the lighter glider will win. Just one word of caution, if you build so light your glider breaks every time your practice, your data or glider will have the issues from 1+2 above and you will perform poorly.

Thanks,
John Hance

I totally agree. Its just that personally I like freedom flight models.

[retired1]

Freedom flight gliders did not fare well last year because they were light and could not launch high enough . I heard that the best ones weighed between 4 and 5 grams vs the 3g. The freedom flight gliders were in a slow glide, so the poor air (turbulence) caused them more problems in the glide than the heavier/faster ones.
The venue was very high compared to what most people had to practice in. You can expect problems when you have a glider designed for a Cat1 bldg. and the venue is a Cat 2.
The mistake that freedom flight model fliers made was not adding clay to get heavy enough to get to the rafters. This year it will be less of a problem as the min wt is 4g. The other unknown at this time what the U of N will have for a venue height.

[jgrischow1]

The presenter at the Centerville Coaching Academy said non-competitors (i.e. parents, coaches) could built the handles (he showed a fancy one with gauges for angles and whatnot). Is this everyone's interpretation?

[iwonder]

The presenter at the Centerville Coaching Academy said non-competitors (i.e. parents, coaches) could built the handles (he showed a fancy one with gauges for angles and whatnot). Is this everyone's interpretation?

Well that wouldn't be my interpretation...

[1nxtmonster]

What kind of times are you guys getting? My best is around 10 seconds