Page:Kitecraft and kite tournaments (1914).djvu/116

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CHAPTER XIV.

GLIDERS.

In group C is to be found the most profitable source of study for the self-propelling model aeroplane. The glider has no motor and no propeller, but is made on the plan of the motored model in the construction and adjustments. The glider is usually made smaller at first, increasing the size to the actual model later. The glider is more useful for study, if it is made heavier in comparison with the motored model. The glider can be thrown by the hand as if it were a spear, Fig. 216, or it can be thrown by a rubber cord, Fig. 217, or by a springy stick, Fig. 218.

Fig. 216.Fig. 217.

All experiments except those intended for adverse conditions, should be made either indoors where there is no wind, or away from buildings far enough to be out of reach of the whirls that are always present near buildings. Heavy paper can be used for planes in some of the experimenting, and even much may be learned by the use of paper models thruout the whole construction, but a little stiffening with small thin strips as reinforcement is better in most cases.

For the model that is thrown like a spear from the hand, wood is used for all parts. The spine can be 3/4″×3/4″×30″, the fore plane 1/4″× 21/2″ in widest part ×8″, and the rear plane 1/4″×41/2″ in widest part ×20″.

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