What Is The Best Type Of Elastic Launched Glider
What is elastic launched glider
An elastic launched glider is model plane that is launched into the air by elastic potential energy. Many science and engineering competitions, such as Science Olympiad and the Academy of Model Aeronautics, host elastic and catapult launched glider competitions to help teach basic physic concepts to students.
In this post, we will discuss different types of gliders and their optimal uses.
What type of glider is best
Flapper Glider
A flapper glider is a type of glider in which the back part of the wing is designed to move upwards (lift up) during the high-speed launch.
The flapper glider is designed to have the air foil change shapes throughout the launch, reducing a large portion of the plane’s drag during the plane’s launch. As the glider transitions into its glide, the back part of the wing drops down to its normal position, creating more lift and drag. It is very hard to get a flapper design higher than 50 feet, therefore they are not commonly used in high ceiling sites.
Standard Glider
A standard glider is a type of glider in which the entire wing is designed with only a solid sheet of wood to to for an airfoil, keeping the entire wing unable to flex during the plane’s flight.
The standard glider is designed to have the air foil maintain its shape throughout the launch, reducing a large portion of the plane’s dependence on clam air currents. Because of the weight of standard gliders in comparison to flapper gliders, standard gliders are capable of surpassing that maximum launch height that most flapper gliders can reach.
