Future Aviation Events

[fozendog]

My glider still nose dives? what do I do?!
Here's how it is:
My glider is flying well when I throw it by hand at eye level and glides smoothly. However, the second i launch the glider it climbs up well and peaks but then quickly nose dives without catching air... What's the cause for this? The design is simple, flat wing, not bends or anything (sheet-like) and a tail like such: _I_ .
The flying pattern is this confusing to me...

It might be too much weight in the front or the angle of the wings is not correct

[mrsteven]

perhaps not launching in the correct angle or yaw to actually create flight, each design I've used requires a different angle or yaw to get it to glide. Its just as important as anything... Each design is different. If you made your own then you'll have to find it, some plans will give you recommended numbers that you start with and move slightly a few degrees to fit your specific glider.

As forozendog said, move the CG around if its not right. That could have something to do with it if you made your own with no plans- balance is key.

[thsom]

Thanks guys, I'm going to try and add elevators on the tail and see the effects.

[jander14indoor]

You may not want to add elevators, that adds weight and changes cg, affecting two important parameters at once. I found very small adjustments sometimes have a big effect with gliders, especially the transition.

Instead of adding elevators, just curl the current horizontal stab trailing edge up or down. You might need to add slices close along both sides of the motor stick from trailing edge forward about 25% of stab chord to free up the trailing edge for large moves.

[fozendog]

What could be some possible changes in the event rules for the 2012-2013 season compared to this years trial event rules?

[mrsteven]

wing span, maybe a limit on stabs, weight, flight log requirements, limitations on rubber, materials, the blunt object on nose size
(sounds about it)

[fozendog]

Ok thanks! Time to start some prototypes...

[Orange714]

Hey guys, I was wondering what brand/where you buy those super small balances? The kind that like fit in your hand, and are use to weigh helicopters, elg, towers. A link would be awesome!

Thanks in advance

[chia]

Hey guys, I was wondering what brand/where you buy those super small balances? The kind that like fit in your hand, and are use to weigh helicopters, elg, towers. A link would be awesome!

Thanks in advance

This is the one I've got. I'm pretty sure a lot of people have something similar. You should be able to get a good one for under $20. Here's a couple of other posts about that on last year's thread...

Search for gram scales on Amazon, and you will find some great deals. Get one that has 0.01 gram accuracy, even though they might be a little more expensive. http://www.amazon.com/iFits-0-01g-Pocke ... 63&sr=1-26
There's one, and even though it's small, you can put a piece of cardboard on top and zero out the scale.

I bought one off amazon. It was this one I believe. Less than $20, up to 1000g, .1g accuracy. That brand also has a scale with .01g accuracy but it only goes up to 100g so I got the one that I could use for other, heavier (non-aircraft) situations becuse I was in need of a digital scale anyway.

[chia]

Calling it now, this is going to be the event which comes after ELG