Characteristics of Glider Aircraft - Assignment Example

A Balsa wood kit, sandpaper, glue, tape for measuring the length of the glider, scissors, coping saw I blade and razor blades are the main materials and tools utilized in constructing Basal Gliders. The tools are majorly used in cutting unnecessary parts.

The construction should begin by constructing the wing and using a wood stripper tool in cutting the thick strips of balsa. Moreover, there should be a sheet weighing at least 10.6 grams. The sheet was more the one gram but less than 10.6 grams. The remaining parts were constructed with the available materials and tools. Preparation of the fuselage or glider was the first step with each base width and component of the tailpiece measured and recorded. Notches and slits were cut from the balsa wood length thus resulting in a full glider.

All components of the glider were assembled by gluing each component to the body of the glider. This consumed quality time thus permitting adequate time for the drying of each component before attaching the next components. At this stage of glider construction, penny-nose weight was applied to the glider. Eventually, the tape was then utilized in affixing each penny to the glider’s nose, ultimately resulting in a full glider.

A starting line on the floor was marked using masking tape. Flight distance testing had a minimum of 17 feet to the landing target such as a desk or chair. The result of the flight test was then recorded on the scorecard. This process aids in predictions of the functionality and reliability of the balsa glide of meeting its target. The testing process used a minimum of two throws for the glider. The weight and balance of the glider were changed by moving the wings of the glider forward and backward, which affected the flying process of the airplanes. The wings of the Glide were increased to have a maximum gliding distance.

The glide Ratio is computed by dividing the glide distance value by the altitude value of the glide. The glide flight-testing method is normally used to test the gliding distance and corresponding gliding altitude. The glide travels a longer distance when it has a higher altitude, similarly, a lower altitude height will make the glide travel for a shorter distance.  The glide uses the advantage of higher altitude to overcome the air resistance of its forward motion, thereby making it move over a long distance. The Glide might have lost some landing altitude at a given landing speed while having forward travel at a given flight speed. However, the glide flight-testing method has many challenges regarding the method of testing. Thus, it is significant to decide on the best method of the glide test flight.

Problems encountered during the flight-testing of the Glide entail damaging of glide thus making it difficult to land. The wing separated the glide from the main body such as the tail breaking from the main glide body. These problems were the main causes that made the glide not fly effectively. Thus, corrective actions for these problems encompass re-gluing of the components to the main body and re-assembling the parts such as a tail.

The glide is not capable to travel at a height of 19 feet since it is a relatively long distance. Nineteen feet is at a relatively lower altitude level and the corresponding distance covered by glide escalates with an increase in altitude. Thus, my glide solely travels at a shorter distance.