1. What Makes a Good Glider Louie Turek aerospace_pilot@yahoo.com

2. Fundamentals Wing Shape The Importance of a Tail Balance!

3. Wing Shape Leading edge Trailing edge Chord

4. Long, thin wings- Good for gliders Smooth airfoil shape is essential for good gliding performance

5. Wings must be strong enough

6. Wing Structure Foam wing Skeleton with covering

7. Wing Structure Folded material with spar inside

8. Wing sweep- Bad idea for gliders

9. Dihedral- Helps with Stability

11. The Tail is VERY Important!

12. No Tail Means No Stability

13. Proper Sizing and Balance- The rule of fingers Horizontal tail- 5X smaller than wing area Vertical tail- 10X smaller than wing area

14. Canards, efficient but possibly unstable

15. Flying wing, more efficient but almost guaranteed unstable

17. Forces on a Glider Weight Thrust?????? Drag Lift Gravity is source of thrust

18. Balance – Center of Gravity Short Long Balance Point- Center of Gravity Wing ~ ¼ back along body Body length ~ same as wingspan

19. Wrap Up Wing Shape- smooth and broad, but strong enough Tail surfaces- Far back and rule of fingers, lightweight tail Balance!

20. Wrap Up Check that glider balances Use ballast to correct flight path Practice throwing technique

21. Rules Review Minimum 24 inch wingspan, maximum 4”x4” body No wheels allowed, no kit materials of any kind allowed, no paper airplanes Must carry 16 marbles, sealed in place in sandwich bag Weight between 6 and 10 ounces (including 2.1 ounces of marbles) Total of 4 flights, score is total distance glided If the glider breaks apart, score reduced 25%

22. Suggestions/Things to Think About Hobby/craft stores for balsa wood Hobby stores have lead edge surface balsa Marbles available at craft stores as well Small balsa gliders for practice Don’t waste material on unneeded things Don’t bother with slot construction

23. Good luck! Louie Turek aerospace_pilot@yahoo.com