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How to Make a Glider Out of PVC & Canvas

You can build your own hang glider with plumbing and sailing supplies. A hang glider must support your weight and stay aloft until you are ready to land. That means you have to make sure your glider is sturdy enough to withstand shifting winds and rough landings. You can build a hang glider with PVC pipe and canvas if you take your time and make sure all fittings are tight and permanent. Plan your glider carefully so you can soar with confidence.

Things You'll Need

A design
PVC pipe, 2-inch diameter
PVC joints (corner joints and ̶0;T̶1; joints)
Hacksaw
Rubber cement
Sewing needle
Plastic thread
Machine-made hang frame

Instructions

- 1
  Sketch out your design on a piece of paper. You can work from free online plans and adjust them to your own needs. Even if the plan you work from is not for PVC pipe, you can use the measurements. Allow for joints everywhere that two pieces of PVC pipe will meet. This will add 2 to 3 inches to each length.
- 2
  Cut your PVC pipe to the lengths you need. Use a hacksaw to cut them. Clean out the ends of the pipe with a damp cloth to remove any dust left over from the cutting. Lay out all the joints you will need to connect the pipes. You will be using corner joints and ̶0;T̶1; joints. Corner joints connect two pieces of pipe. ̶0;T̶1; joints connect three pieces of pipe.
- 3
  Join all the pipes together using the PVC joints. Try the fit before you glue them. Once you are satisfied that the shape of your glider is correct, glue all the joints with rubber cement. Apply the rubber cement to both the inside of the joint and the outside of the pipe. Insert the pipes into the joints within one minute of applying the glue.
- 4
  Spread your canvas over the PVC frame. Cut the canvas so that it is 8 inches longer than the frame on all sides. This overhang will be your hem.
- 5
  Fold the canvas over the pipes to make a hem. Sew the hems with heavy-duty plastic thread. Make your stitches about 1/16 of an inch apart.
- 6
  Suspend a hang frame from your PVC frame. A hang frame is the part you strap yourself into and hold onto. Do not make the hang frame yourself from PVC pipe, because this part must hold all of your weight. Use a machine-made hang frame.

Aviation