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Hi! I was just wondering any tips on the elastic launch glider. I am completely new to Science Olympiad so don't be like "OMG she is such a nerd!"

For All the Science Nerds!
-bubby2021

bubby2021 wrote:Hi! I was just wondering any tips on the elastic launch glider. I am completely new to Science Olympiad so don't be like "OMG she is such a nerd!"

For All the Science Nerds!
-bubby2021

Welcome to both Science Olympiad and the forums!

First, check out the ELG Wiki on this website. Lots of starting info there. Then look at the discussions from prior years on the archive part of the website. That will take you a long way to understanding the event. Where it doesn't make sense, ask away.

The more specific and focused your question, the better the answers you'll get. Generic questions either get answers that are pages long with a lot of confusing qualifications, or short, generic, and fairly useless answers.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

If you are new, I suggest that you purchase a kit before you try to make your own glider, as for you can get a feel of what good gliders are like. For kits, I recommend the Freedom Flight 2016 glider (you get 2016 when you order 2015 glider). It is a really good glider to experiment with, and it will get you a good flight time.

The trick to getting a good flight time, is have the lightest possible glider (that actually can fly). They lowered the weight limit this year to 3.5 grams, which can easily replace the shorter wing span limit. Use the least amount of wood as possible, and use the lightest glue (super glue(I use Locktite)). For the flight log, you need to come up with additional categories, which sometimes can't be measured accurately, so sometimes, I just estimate, which can save you a lot of time. The judges won't care if you came up with your own data.

Haifan Day
Madison WI

An alternative perspective. Some of the kits can be difficult to build correctly. My recommendation to to build simpler gliders (kits are fine) to get flying sooner rather than later. Even the simple gliders are more capable performers than most expect. Once you have some basic building and flying skills, move on to the more complex designs, kit or scratch.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

Yes, I suppose, but especially if you are new, It can take a ton of time and tons of gliders to find out a design that works. And honestly, the freedom flight kit is one of the most complicated kits out there, and if you are dedicated, you can make a glider within 2 hours. Plus, Freedom Flight kits come with this huge manual for building the plane, and flying/trimming the plane, which could be even used for another plane not from the FF kit.

Fanglin wrote:Yes, I suppose, but especially if you are new, It can take a ton of time and tons of gliders to find out a design that works. And honestly, the freedom flight kit is one of the most complicated kits out there, and if you are dedicated, you can make a glider within 2 hours. Plus, Freedom Flight kits come with this huge manual for building the plane, and flying/trimming the plane, which could be even used for another plane not from the FF kit.

If you want to make a good glider it should take like 4+ hours to make a glider imo.

this is also my first time too, but some tips I learned were make the glider out of light materials, make the wings curved to if it tips it can balance it's self out, and lastly have a nose weight.