140 Mile Soarer (oz10668)
About this Plan
140 Mile Distance Soarer. Free flight all-sheet glider.
Quote: "140 Mile Distance Soarer. Idea was to see how far elementary models could travel; a dozen were built, on each wing was a typed slip asking for notification should any be picked up at a distance from the launching site.
Gliders were first set for circling flights, but when launched from a slope up which a fair breeze was blowing, they turned and plowed into hill above launching spot. Needed was a means for making them travel flat and fast to a considerable distance from the hill side, then changing the balance for real thermal-sniffing flight, with rudder turning to keep them in thermals. Result was achieved by simple gadgetry.
All surfaces are flat section, with rounded edges. Angular difference be-tween wing and stab attained by beveling underside of main stick so that leading edge of stab is 3/32 in lower than trailing edge. Rudder is given light coat of cement on one side to force it into turn position when cement dries. Cement ap-plied only on rear portion. No dope used on any part of gliders; they were sanded smooth all over.
Before adjusting for final balance, add rudder adjuster, aluminum snuffer tube and eyelet for droppable nose weight. Then give glider a few glide trials, changing solder or wire weight at front until you get a floating glide, with a turn of 50-100 ft diameter.
Droppable weight is single piece of 1/16 wire, which should rather sloppily fit eyelet cemented into fuselage; 1/32 music wire spring attached to the wire kicks latter out, away from glider, when fuse burns rubber band. At same time, rudder adjuster, set to hold rudder in center for straight flight position, snaps free, and warped rudder starts model in circling flight. Arrange adjuster so rear-most rubber band snaps free when front one breaks.
It takes surprisingly large amount of solder on ballast wire to bring model from normal floating glide to which it has been adjusted to fast flat glide you need for start.
When the model is launched from hill-side, it should go out into the wind for considerable distance before gadgetry operates to drop extra weight; it should be far enough out into valley to clear the launching hill. If any thermals are present, you are apt to see it go right up out of sight. Length of fuse depends upon wind strength—the more wind the longer fuse should be, since wind tends to carry model back toward hill's face.
Fuse used was venetian blind cord boiled to remove wax, then dipped in saltpeter solution. When dry, cut up as needed.
A dozen gliders were launched off Wurtsboro Mountain in southeastern New York state. Gliders were picked up in East Orange and Lakehurst NJ, distances of 50 and 140 miles. "
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