Hobbies And Interests
Quarter Grain Wood
There are different grades of balsa available for glider construction. For the best performance, the grade known as quarter grain, or quarter cut, should be used for the wings, fins and tail. Quarter grain wood is stiff, giving the glider greater stability in flight.
Careful Measurements
When constructing a plane, always use a template, whether it's one that comes with a kit, or one that can be found online or from other sources. Cut carefully and exactly; a plane that is measured poorly will fly poorly. Always use a new blade in a modeling knife when cutting the pattern out.
Testing Balance
If a plane seems out of balance when flying, there are ways to correct the problem. If the plane is nose heavy, a bit of wood can be lightly shaved from the rear of the fuselage; if it has to tendency to tip to one side, a very small piece of clay on the opposite wing can counteract the tilt.
Marking the Plane
Before flying, the tips of the wing and the tail should be sprayed with just a touch of fluorescent orange paint; this will make the glider easier to find if you lose track of it in flight. A person can also write their name and phone number on the wing with indelible ink in the event they can't find it, but somebody else does.
Proper Throwing Motion
To get the maximum distance out of a glider, it needs to be held underneath the fuselage, with at least part of the hand positioned under the wings. The plane should be thrown straight ahead; the amount of force with which it is thrown should be varied to see its effects. Throwing the plane too gently will make it sink quickly to the ground; throwing it too hard might make it go out of control.