Invergordon Primary School, Australia

Testing the Glider

G'day to fellow Right Flyers from Grade 6 at Invergordon, Australia.

Well, we-test flew our first gliders yesterday and the results were far from impressive! Most of the group had predicted that the flights would be erratic and short, which they were. We released the gliders from the top of our playground fort (which the students really enjoyed because they're not usually allowed to climb on the roof). Two flights were made. The first was a release direct from the hand (ie. no thrust); the second a gentle push, with the arm being extended straight out from the shoulder. Here are the results:

Kylie: Flight 1- When I dropped my glider it looped and came back. It landed upside down. It dropped nearly straight down and ended up 50cms from the fort. Flight 2- When I pushed mine it went out 200cms and then came back. It landed upside down 100cms from the fort.

Sarah: Flight 1- When I dropped it from our fort at school it went 82 cms. Flight 2 - When I gave my glider a slight push my glider went 302cms. It was swaying from side to side.

Bethany: Flight 1 - When I dropped my glider it looped around and dropped on the ground. It landed upside down. It went about 50 cms. Flight 2 - When I pushed my glider gently it turned around and flew the other way. It went back under the steps of the fort and landed upside down and flew about 200cms.

Craig: Flight 1 - When I dropped it, it went 78cms. It wobbled, then dropped and landed upside down. Flight 2- When I pushed it, it went 120cms. It glided and then spun around and hit the ground.

Taneil: Flight 1 - When I dropped my plane it went out about 90cms and then dropped straight down and landed upside down. Flight 2 - When I pushed the plane it went about 1 metre out and then looped and landed upside down on the ground.

Casey: Flight 1 - It went out about 130 cms then did a loop and came back under the steps and landed about 150 cms behind them. Flight 2 - When I pushed it, it did the same but went a little bit further.

Phillip: Flight 1 - When I dropped it, it went straight and then it did a loop and went straight again and landed the right way up. It went 155 cms. Flight 2 - When I pushed it gently it went straight, span around, did a loop, and then went straight. It landed the right way up like before. It went 205 cms.

Brett: Flight 1- I dropped it off the fort and it landed upside down. It didn't go very far. Flight 2 - When I pushed it, it went about 200cms and it landed upside down again.

Brooke: Flight 1 - When I dropped my glider it span around and went under the steps of the fort and landed upside down. Flight 2- When I pushed it gently it did the same.

None of the gliders broke so the students are now busily redesigning their wings. We have attached a photo of Taneil letting her glider go from the top of the fort. You'll need your best eyes on to see the glider!! Most of the gliders flew very erratically and landed upside down (please, no jokes about coming from a land down under!!!)

Some suggestions for new wing designs are: shape it like bat wings (as in the batplane), shape it like a spitfire's (WW II fighter plane) wings, make it a delta shape, give it large rectangular wings, make it a stretched oval shape, or give it butterfly shaped wings.

Hope everyone is having as much fun as we are with this project.

Paul Cairns and Grade 6 students
Invergordon,Victoria, Australia