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Circular flight
Posted: November 21st, 2015, 10:15 pm
by _jaeholee+
How do you make the gliders fly in a circular direction?
Re: Circular flight
Posted: November 22nd, 2015, 11:04 am
by Unome
If I remember correctly, tilting the wings will cause the glider to turn in the direction of the elevated wing (but don't take my word for it; this is residual knowledge picked up from people who actually do this event).
Re: Circular flight
Posted: November 22nd, 2015, 2:35 pm
by Less_Incidence
On my gliders I don't use an elevated wing as Unome said, I prefer to induce all the turn with rudder.
When you build your glider, the rudder or vertical stabilizer should have its trailing edge off to one side relative to the leading edge. I like my gliders to turn to the right, so I glue the rudder to the right side of the fuselage, only gluing the front of the rudder in place, and then using shims and the natural springiness of the balsa wood to push the trailing edge of the rudder out further to the right, so that the amount of turn is adjustable for flying spaces of various sizes.
Re: Circular flight
Posted: November 22nd, 2015, 3:51 pm
by _jaeholee+
Thanks.
Re: Circular flight
Posted: March 14th, 2016, 10:05 pm
by fifty_missions
There are a multitude of options for inducing a turn. The last is to use rudder! Excessive rudder deflection can induce a roll on a high speed launch.
1) Slight stabilizer tilt- to turn left the port stabilizer needs to be tilted about 2 degrees higher than the starboard tip.
2) Bend the trailing edge of the wing down if it is opposite the inboard wing of the turn. For instance, to turn to post (left) bend the trailing edge of the starboard wing down a couple of degrees.
3) For more turn left, bend the leading edge of the starboard (right) wing up a couple of degrees.
4) Reverse the above to orbit right.
Good Luck.