Chuck Glider

Wooden Dowel Experiment:

In order to build this cardboard plane that was our first project in Intro to Aviation and Aerospace, we first had to understand the principles of planes or why we couldn't just throw a piece of cardboard and expect it to fly. We did an experiment where we were given thin, but long wooden dowels, and were asked to throw them into a tree to see if we could hit the tree. During the first time we threw the wooden dowel into the tree, the wooden dowel had nothing on it and it just either we straight to the ground as thrown or went near the bottom of the tree, but not one of the dowels was able to reach in the tree. Then we were able to throw the wooden dowel a second time, but were given paper and tape to use however we wanted on the dowel, and my group added a pointed tip to our wooden dowel and added three little flaps of paper on the end of our dowel, to make a tail on the dowel, and to make the wooden dowel look like an arrow. When our class threw these the second time around most of them went into the tree and if it didn't, it was due to a throwing error. We learned that just like airplanes, the dowel needed to have a balanced center of lift and gravity, as well as a pointed or close to a pointed tip in order to be able to be more precise in throwing through the air. We also had to take into account the wind and the angle to throw the dowel, which was slightly up because the dowel would drop as you threw it, so the throw needs to be angled upwards. We learned from this experiment the importance of a negative feedback loop, which means we learned from our mistakes in order to be able to modify the stick to throw better, or improve our results off of past problems or failures. We also learned that you need a tail on a plane or stick to help it fly and stay stable.

Materials:

• hot glue gun/hot glue- (used to glue pieces of foam together)
• bevel tool- (used to cut 45 degree angles into creases of the wings)
• razor - (used to cut pieces out of the foam board)
• foam board covered in paper- (outlined all pieces to cut, score, and fold were on the foam board)
• tape -(used to hold parts together or modify angle of rudder or keep latch of glider nose down or tape wings at angle and the middle of the wing together)
• small wooden dowels- (connected or held together the glider nose and the fuselage)
• rubber bands- (helped hold down the wing to the rest of the plane and hold the wing in place on the plane)
• small screw driver- (in order to remove styrofoam when scoring the foam board)
• sander- (used to sharped dowels, so they could poke through the glider nose and fuselage)

Parts of The Workflow Changed:

Errors in workflow: During the process of making my plane, I had a few errors by not following the workflow as carefully as I should, so these changes are already in the workflow, I just committed errors and therefore had to fix or change them. Unlike the tutorial video, I had to cut out two glider noses and 4 of the curved triangles and score the specific sections of the glider nose twice, because in my first glider nose I put the sides of the glider nose on top of the bottom of the glide nose, rather than gluing the sides next to the bottom of the glider nose, and I was unable to easily take apart the first glider nose without ripping it, so I had to start my glider nose all over again. When I made the glider nose the second time it was faster because I already knew the process of how to make it; i just had to make it the right way this time. I also sanded too big of wooden dowels for the holes they were intended to poke through on the glider nose, so I had to sand new, skinnier dowels in order to have them fit in the holes, but it did not take very long.

Changes to workflow: One of our changes to our workflow is when creating 45 degree angles in the crease between the rectangle that goes underneath the wing and the actual wing, we used a bevel tool that allowed use to cut these angles more easy compared to the tutorial video, which bent and cracked the crease by hand. We used the bevel tool to cut both sides of the crease on both pieces of the wing, so throughout the larger wing, there was a 45 degree angle on both sides of the crease between the rectangle that goes underneath the wing and the actual wing. We also taped the two pieces that create the large wing after we made the bevel cut, whereas in the video, he taped the two pieces first and then by hand created the crease or indent in the wing. Also, when we had to glue the wings at an angle, and he had already cut the little sections that glue would be put into to allow the wings to remain angled up, I cut the after I had already formed the wing, rather than before when it was flat. I could have done it either way, but his way was probably easier. Also, when he only put two rubber bands criss-cross on the opposite sides of the opposite wooden dowels, I put four, and that was because it allowed me to keep my wing centered and in place when flying in. It allowed more support for the wing to stay. Also, I cut the wooden dowels down in order to get rid of unwanted weight, and I cut it down to where the rubber bands could still stay on the dowels. In the tutorial, he does not cut the dowels down. Also in the tutorial, he adds a movable surface and electronics, including wires, which we did not include. We did add clay to the front of the glider nose, and used the latch to put it in the nose. We also checked how much clay we needed by placing fingers on the two holes underneath the center of the wing and checking the center of gravity/lift. In the tutorial, he does not add clay of check the center of gravity/lift using the two holes.

Building the Plane Images:

Fuselage:

Fuselage with tail:

Glider Nose:

Glider Nose with Latch:

Fuselage with Glider Nose:

Toothpicks and using them to Put the Glider Nose and Fuselage Together:

Wings:

Final Plane:

Flying the Plane and Modifying it Due to Challenges:

Tests:

We began our flight test from a level surface, throwing it on a field. We had to throw it originally to test how the center of lift and gravity was balanced. Once my plane was thrown, it went down pretty fast, nose first, so I needed to take away more weight, which was the clay we placed under the latch of the glider nose. I also realized that my wing was on the wrong way, or flipped backwards, so I had to turn the wing back to the way it should be, which meant I did not need to adjust the amount of clay, yet, because since I changed how the wing faced, it could be the right weight balance now, but I had to test it again to make sure. When we went to the stadium to test our planes once again, but this time we would throw them outward and they would descend gradually. During my first test, in the stadium, my plane curved to the right very significantly, so I needed to experimenting with possible solutions, I took a little clay out of the glider nose, in order to possibly balance the plane a little better. I also tried to bend the rudder of the tail to the left, so it would go to the left. My plane still went to the right the second time I tested it, but less severely. I then tried to bend the rudder even more to the left and also I added the little piece of clay that I originally took out, back in the first test. I also realized that my wings were not completely centered, so I need to make sure before the third test that the wing was centered, in order to have it fly straighter and not lean to the right side and ultimately fall down in a fast curve to the right. I have to use this negative feedback loop to improve my plane for the final flights.

Modifications after tests, before final flights:

In order to modify my plane even more to have a close to successful flight, I added slightly even more weight to the inside of the glider nose of my plane. I also used tape to have my rudder always slightly bent to the left in order to make my plane go straighter vs to the right. I also glued by rudder and my tail better on the rest of my plane, so it would not lean to one side and cause my plane to tilt and fall. I also taped my latch of my glider nose shut with a small piece of tape, so it would not fly open when it was flying, causing drag and then my plane to fall. I also cut down the size of my toothpicks to get rid of unwanted weight. Lastly, I added two more rubber bands over the top of my wing in order to hold my wing in place more, so it could stay centered and the wing would not slide causing it to lean one way or another. Then we began our final flights, but were able to modify our planes after every flight if we wanted.

Final Flights and Modifications After Flights Due to Challenges:

Times:

1st flight: 3.8 seconds

2nd flight: 8.9 seconds

3rd flight: 7.4 seconds

During the my first flight, it was more successful that my original flights, but it leaned to the left instead of the right during this test flight, therefore in order to try to prevent this from happening, I took off the piece of tape on my rudder and straightened the rudder out, so it would fly straight vs to the left or right. I also made sure my wings were centered and straight once again because when my plane fell, it hit the ground hard and moved the wings, so they needed to be returned to where they were. During the second flight, my plane successfully flew for a longer time, even though it curved to the left closer to the end of flight, it was more successful and could have been effected by the wind as well. In order to try to make my plane fly for an even longer time and straighter path, I tried to turn the rudder slightly to the right, but not a lot because in the past it went very far to the right, but I also straightened the wings out as well again, to try to make my plane go as straight as possible. During my third test, my plane went to the right, probably because my rudder was turned slightly towards the right, and wind could have also affected it. The time was also shorter probably because it ran into a tree, so it ran out of room to fly. In my next flights or models of my planes, I am going to try to modify my plane even more to try to get it going on the straightest path possible for the longest time, with wind possibly being a factor as well.

Conclusion:

During this project I was able to begin to understand aviation and the basics of how to modify and keep learning from your mistakes, or negative feedback loop. The negative feedback loop helped me know how I needed to modify my plane in order to attempt to make it fly more straight, or valence or have stability when flying, and also be able to fly for a long time. I also learned that the tail provides stability for a plane, and can also cause the plane to steer or turn in different directions. I also learned that the center of lift needs to be bakenced in order to have a successful flight or be able to fly your plane. Overall, I began learning the basics of aviation during this process and how to modify my designs in order to keep improving my plane.