Balsa Glider Launcher (Calculating Glide Ratio)

[@TheRcSaylors]

Yes!!! This is Awesome!!!

[@TheRcSaylors]

Really impressed with those edits! Best video from you guys ever!

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks, guys! We appreciate your accolade and encouragement! 😊

[@kathyanderson8462]

This is your most hilarious one yet with the alter ego. Just love watching these shows. You are amazingly talented in this arena!

[@NighthawkGliders]

Just practicing my video editing techniques... 😜

[@geoffreydowen5793]

just found your channel. going to build these for my grandson. respect from Suffolk, England.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Welcome aboard! We hope you have a great building experience with your grandson!

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

Sneaky peek in the background at 0:41 thought I spotted a boat but I think it was a plastic storage box. Great project too and interesting results.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Yeah, it’s a storage box. Our basement is overdue for a good cleaning. 😊 I don’t have any boats- just airplanes. Thanks for comment. This project was a little more time consuming than originally anticipated, but I’ll have to experiment more with this concept.

[@petercane6376]

The idea is born and I like it. I do chuck gliders and DLG but I cannot do a proper Discus launch as I am 70 yrs young, with titanium rods bolting my spine together and If I were to attempt a full discus throw I would probs snap the rods, break in half and die instantly...( its okay to laugh I have a wicked sense of humour). I use a bungee now but the rubber we need for them is getting hard to get now and not every launch is identical. Thats why I like your idea of using SPRING power. Springs are easy to makje or get and your design gives identical launches. What I need is something in the same vein that could be set up in the field to launch a Mosquito class ( 30" wing span) glider instead of a bungee. Your idea is essentially a Roman style catapult. It just needs tweeking ! Thanks and keep at it. Love your humour. Sorry Americans......HUMOR! Hee hee.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks, Peter, for viewing and commenting! We enjoy modeling balsa airplanes. It’s our favorite hobby. We also enjoy a good dialog with our fans! This launcher was built from various parts and the shoe box was heading for the trash bin. So, yeah… it was an easy build and I was amazed it worked. Plus, I realized that rubber may not give it a consistent launching behavior as a spring might fare better. Maybe someday we’ll figure it out. We certainly don’t want you to hurt yourself and die! So, with your injured back, stay safe, ok? Later, my friend! (Oh, maybe I should try by best to translate?) Thanks, Petour, for stopping by and having a gander. We enjoy modelling balsa aeroplanes. It’s our favourite hobby. We also enjoy a good dialogue with out fans! This launcher was wangled from bits ‘n bobs and the shoe box was heading for the rubbish bin. So, yeah, Bob’s your uncle and I was gobsmacked it worked. I realised that rubber may not give it a consistent launching behaviour as a spring might be the bee’s knees. Maybe someday we’ll know our onions and get it all sorted! We certainly don’t want you to over-egg the pudding and pop your clogs! So, with your wonky back, don’t be taking the biscuit, ok? Cheerio, mate! 👍😀😂

[@petercane6376]

@@NighthawkGliders Ha ha. Love it!!! But outa here, when things break or don't work ( my back) we say... Its buggered mate!!!! Bugger can be a multi useful word... Bugger ( an exclamation of dismay) Bugger ( an exclamation of surprise) Its Buggered ( Something is broken) Bugger that mate! ( I can't be bothered) I am Buggered ( I am knackered) Thats a Bugger..( That is difficult to do) Thats a Bugger ( It should not have happened like that) The list us endless. We are not terribly good with English so we narrow everything down to one word. Happy inventing!! Peter

[@geoffreydowen5793]

I used to be in the royal navy, and served on Ark Royal ; R09 takes me back . xx

[@NighthawkGliders]

I’m sure you have seen many of planes catapulted into the skies on the HMS Ark Royal Aircraft Carrier. That’s cool! 😎

[@ideology2004]

This is a great and clear experiment.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks! We appreciate your comment and are glad you liked it! 😊

[@tux603]

Well done guys! I d'nt think it is essential to increase the launch speed, on the other hand it would be necessary that the glide paths are perfectly straight to be able to compare the behavior of different gliders.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Yeah, thanks for comment. I should build a couple gliders w/o tail tilt just to ensure launching is straight and level. Also, with my limited space, to obtain more exact measurements I believe I need to launch the gliders: 1) at their natural glide velocity and 2) at their natural glide angle. These two things will vary from glider to glider. Any variation of these two things will cause the glider to adjust itself (oscillate) in flight before settling into glide. Too far off in launch velocity or launch angle and the glider will not follow it's straight glide path giving me "false" measurement when it hits the wall. Not knowing either of these for any given glider, it would be nice to have adjustable settings on launcher to change power and angle to achieve that straight path and consistent launch before measuring. (Things for me to consider in next model!)

[@modelnutty6503]

Nighthawk Gliders catch my long winded reply up there somewhere, the plunger V just a couple wedges on the sides of the plunger like " \|/ " the down arrow shape pointing forward, so when slid forward it pushes the levers apart (below) gripping the glider (above). when it smacks the stop it'll release the glider consistently, at what ever angle you set the stop at. what'd be REALLY cool is actuating it with falling weights for consistency, no bands or springs and messing with a pull scale, you know the force by what weight is added+adjusting.

[@NighthawkGliders]

I think I prefer springs over falling weights. It would be more compact and less cumbersome to operate.

[@modelnutty6503]

true, can always measure the tension when/where rear stop is set using different springs or bands, and no hesitation on energy release (gravity power would!). the "rockers" that grip the glider for the V wedge plunger idea, those rockers could almost be wood from clothes pins, similar pinch action, wedged not sprung.

[@Skydive4ever]

Pretty cool. Could you do a build video on the launcher?

[@NighthawkGliders]

Yeah, maybe on the next model. Wish I had recorded myself making this one! Lol. 😀

[@myplane2906]

Amazing videos thanks for sharing. I am already subscribed. I have a question about gliders , I hope you do not mind asking if it is not the one you design. I built one on foam from a Japanese web site . The problem is that when i launch it it flies in a loop and crashes. So I have to launch it horizontal....does not make any sense . Could you please share you thoughts on what may be the potential reason for this ? I hope you can help . Many thanks in advance...!

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks, Alex, for subscribing! A “loopy” plane can be result of several reasons. Most likely either too much up elevator, too much angle of incidence, or wing too far forward (or to big). Essentially, you have too much lift on main wing and possibly not enough authority on horizontal stabilizer! If you test it at glide speed, does it fly level? If it stalls, try more nose weight and/or adjust elevator down a tiny bit at a time. Be sure to only change one thing at a time before testing. Also, try launching it with 45 deg pitch up, but with a 90 deg roll. Even if it’s a little loopy, by starting off with a substantial roll, it can spiral upwards and level off. Hope that helps!

[@AeroCraftAviation]

The side slip is due to the fact that the Sandpiper has a V-tail, which is a lot more efficient then a standard tail, but provides less vertical stability,

[@NighthawkGliders]

You should build the Sandpiper and try to fly it indoors at your armory? (hint, hint, nudge, nudge!) 😜

[@AeroCraftAviation]

Ok ..and I'm off to the local craft store for balsa! One sandpiper...comin' up!

[@drmikecubbin]

So is that you and you brother playing guitar and drums on the soundtrack? Totally unrelated to the cool launcher you made!

[@NighthawkGliders]

No, lol. I wish. 😝. I see you must have seen the drums there. I have them, but don’t play. The music was available in the KZbin music library, so I thought it was great for this video. 😊

[@lucaswagner1933]

Great video! You seem like a very nice person too. Greetings from Brazil.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Hi Lucas! Thanks!

[@goldenfish77]

Very nice job! I like to post this video! Maybe this launcher would be greater if this could be on a high hill.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks! I would like to make this launcher more adjustable and more consistent (if possible) for more accurate measurements of different glider sizes and designs. (Like for foamies, too 😀)

[@modelnutty6503]

I think the concept is awesome, but gets mechanically over complex with the launch arms separating for the release. single straight arm that has a notch for the glider's hook, or similar "grippers" releasing by single plunger about 5/8" before end of stroke (hammer arm has plunger in it). got a clear picture now... single stop rear, moveable for arc distance. single stop front, also moveable from -20 to +10 degrees for small up/down adjusting. plunger in arm... as it's smacked back a V wedge pulled out from between vertical arms (like valve rockers). tension released lower, releases upper, consistently. put glider between the clips gently squeezing, slide the V plunger forward just enough to grip the glider. plunger smacked back when it hits the forward stop.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Hmm. Interesting idea with the V-plunger. Thanks.

[@joshuawfinn]

Very creative video. I like it. Please bring your launcher this weekend if you can. ;)

[@NighthawkGliders]

Thanks, Josh! Sure, no problem, I’ll bring it to West Baden Springs.

[@joshuawfinn]

One other suggestion: include a link to the thread on the Flite Test forum in this video's description, near the top, so people can learn more.

[@NighthawkGliders]

Great suggestion and done! 👍😀

[@alfredlebeau3137]

Well this is a idias big lounchi a cataopol tha amarican kestel