Elastic Launched Glider B

[wlsguy]

Since there is no requirement for the clay ballast to be on the front of the glider (e.g., covering the nose), I'm not sure if safety was the reason for it. The lip balm cap specification prevents sharp noses. My opinion for not allowing metallic ballast is to avoid teams using lead (hazardous substance). Any one have any experience with this in the past?

I can definately say one of the reasons for no metal was to prevent sharp edges, points, pins, etc from being on the glider. Metal can be filed to a sharp edge and still meet the lip balm cap rule and is thereby prohibited. I have used sticky tack (poster putty, fun tack, etc) as ballast. It does not dry out, stays stuck to the glider and meets the ballast requirement. Most dollar stores have it for, well, a dollar.

[Modeldad]

Thanks, wlsguy.

Better safe than sorry, I'll check out the local dollar store.

[jander14indoor]

Does anybody have any good links for Elastic Launched Glider?

There are a lot of VERY good links on the web, not to hard to find with a google search and some already in this string if you go back up.

To get started, here are some for the presentation I give at clinics, some may be repeats from up string.
http://soinc.org/elastic_launched_glider_b
http://www.amaglider.com
http://www.sciencetoystore.com/contents/en-us/p307.html
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793903
http://www.americanjuniorclassics.com/i ... patent.htm
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Folding ... wn!/1934/1
http://www.amaglider.com/?p=view&a=basi ... techniques
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/outd ... iders.html
http://www.amaflightschool.org/diy/how- ... e-olympiad
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/intr ... ndles.html
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/gene ... aunch.html
http://www.soarmd.org/science-olympiad/11-wright-stuff
http://amaflightschool.org/video/how-fl ... nch-glider

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[SOCoach]

What is the best method of adjusting the diameter of the circle the plane flies in? We need to make our plane fly in a larger circle. I would assume it involves the horizontal stab?

[bernard]

What is the best method of adjusting the diameter of the circle the plane flies in? We need to make our plane fly in a larger circle. I would assume it involves the horizontal stab?

This video describes one way of adjusting your plane to turn in a circle. I think you would angle the vertical stabilizer more or less to adjust the diameter of the circle.

[bjt4888]

SOCoach,
I have coached this event for three local high schools for the last couple of years and have helped dozens of students with gliders like this. For gliders that are not "flappers", stabilizer tilt of between 2 and four degrees will usually provide a turn circle of about 25 ft., which should work well for most flying venues. A small amount of rudder bent into the last little bit of the vertical stabilizer (or fin) is usually also a good idea and can aid the transition as it has most of its effect at high speeds. In order to avoid having to break glue joints and reset the stabilizer tilt, a simple fix is to add a small 1/16" ball of clay to the wingtip that you want the glider to turn towards (or turn less in the opposite direction). This method sounds like it is not very elegant, but it works very well. If you haven't already done this, you should balance the glider with a couple of fingers on teh fuselage to see which wing is heavier now. If the wing on the inside of the turn is heavier now, and if you feel the students can do this without damaging the glider, they could sand that wing a little lighter to increase the turn circle size. If stabilizer tilt is very much more than 4 degrees, the student will probably need to crack the glue joint and decrease the amount of tilt.
For "flapper" style catapult gliders, stabilizer tilt is rarely used as the flaps dominate flight characteristics. These gliders usually can be made to turn adequately with just a small amount of rudder offset (1/16" or so). My students best gliders last year were flying between 27.5 and 28.4 seconds in a 27 ft. ceiling gym. My copy of the same glider flew 29.8 seconds in this same gym. A copy of the plan for the glider we used is in the Hip Pocket Aeronautics Plan Gallery (Flapper 2014 SO CLG)

Brian T.
AMA since 1972 (off and on)

[dragonmaster57]

Does anybody have any good links for Elastic Launched Glider?

There are a lot of VERY good links on the web, not to hard to find with a google search and some already in this string if you go back up.

To get started, here are some for the presentation I give at clinics, some may be repeats from up string.
http://soinc.org/elastic_launched_glider_b
http://www.amaglider.com
http://www.sciencetoystore.com/contents/en-us/p307.html
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793903
http://www.americanjuniorclassics.com/i ... patent.htm
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Folding ... wn!/1934/1
http://www.amaglider.com/?p=view&a=basi ... techniques
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/outd ... iders.html
http://www.amaflightschool.org/diy/how- ... e-olympiad
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/intr ... ndles.html
http://legacy.amaglider.com/assets/gene ... aunch.html
http://www.soarmd.org/science-olympiad/11-wright-stuff
http://amaflightschool.org/video/how-fl ... nch-glider

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

Thank you SO much! I can definitely use this info for research and reference.

[drcubbin]

I saw on one of the Launched Glider videos that an "accelerant" is used to dry the CA glue much more quickly. Does anyone know where I can buy that (without having to order and wait since we are in a bit of a rush?) I thought they said it is sold at Walmart, but I couldn't find it there. And are there any types that are preferred?

[reed303]

I saw on one of the Launched Glider videos that an "accelerant" is used to dry the CA glue much more quickly. Does anyone know where I can buy that (without having to order and wait since we are in a bit of a rush?) I thought they said it is sold at Walmart, but I couldn't find it there. And are there any types that are preferred?

Do you have a locally owned hobby store near you ? Not a Michael's or Hobby Lobby. If not , try using baking soda instead. See this article re SuperGlues for info.
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2 ... a_glue.htm

[drcubbin]

Thank you! I saw another article that mentioned baking soda and I was a little skeptical. I like the idea it provides a bit of "bulk" that can then be sanded. Have you used it, or do you know of any competitors who have? Thanks once more.