What this event is about
Design, build, and fly an elastic-launched glider. Scoring typically rewards flight time/distance within constraints.
Study plan
Setup (team of up to 2, ~10 min slot / 6-min Flight Period, Eye Protection B; up to 2 gliders + launch handle(s) + measurement box(es) + flight log)
- Specs: flight-config glider fits fully in team Measurement Box whose external dims fit in 32.0 × 24.0 × 47.0 cm; mass >3.5 g and <10.0 g throughout flight; blunt nose must not bottom out in a ~1.57 cm deep × ~1.37 cm lip-balm cap; no boron filaments.
- Launch Handle <1 m (excluding elastic), one-student supported, safe; non-metallic elastic stays on handle and contacts glider through launch — elastic leaving handle ends that flight’s timing.
- Kits OK if no pre-glued joints or pre-covered surfaces. Practice sliding glider in/out of box with no shape change after removal.
- Flight Log bonus: ≥10 pre-tournament flights with ≥4 parameters including required peak height, relaxed elastic length, flight time + ≥1 team-chosen (pitch, stretch, etc.) with units → complete log ×1.2, partial ×1.1, none ×1.0.
- Competition: check-in box/mass/handle → 6-min Flight Period starts when handle returned → declare trim vs official before each launch (undeclared = official) → up to 5 official flights with 1–2 gliders → no steering; launch from floor with handle only.
- Timing: start when glider leaves hand; stop on floor contact, lift loss (e.g., lands on girder), or ES call; median of timers is official.
- Score = sum of three longest Accumulated Flight Scores (Flight Time × bonuses). Ties: longest non-scored official Flight Score. Construction/competition violations without specific penalties rank after clean teams.
- Iteration loop: change one trim variable at a time; log room ceiling height from tournament notice; ballast only as needed for scale differences; practice recovery/repair without extra time.
Tips
Indoor practice days beat guessing CG on tournament morning.