Hi, my name is Will Smith and welcome to my website.

I am participating in the shoebox glider challenge sponsored by NASA.

The final Glider

Research

After researching different wing designs, I decided that a deep camber wing for more lift at low speed was the type of airfoil for my glider.

Glide Slope Ratio- the glide slope ratio is the distance that the glider flew, divided by the height that the glider was launched.

My glide slope ratio was 10:1, because it was launched from 7 ft. and flew 70 ft.

Aspect Ratio=wingspan:chord length.

My aspect ratio (AR) is:  96 inches to 7 inches => AR of 13.7:1

Bernuolli's principle states that when a fluid (either a liquid or gas) is accelerated, there is a decrease in the pressure of the fluid.  Also, when a fluid is decelerated, there is an increase in the pressure of the fluid.

Four Forces of Flight

Thrust-the force exerted through the propeller shaft of an airplane.

Drag- the slowing force acting on an air foil or an airplane moving through the air, parallel and opposite to the direction of movement.

Lift- the upward force that opposes the pull of gravity.

Weight-the force that directly opposes lift; the pull downward of gravity.

Documentation

Building the glider.

First I started with an empty shoe box, and made two wings out of blue foam board and glued carbon-fiber dowels. Then I attached a 1/2 in. tube to the box and used more blue foam board to cut out a vertical and horizontal stabalizer and attached it to the back of the tube.

Flying.

On the first flight it flew 55 ft. and it stalled. On the next flight(after adding down elevator) it flew 65 ft. but stalled again.  After adding more elevator it flew an astonishing 70ft. and flew perfectly 5 more times.  (all flights from 7 ft.)

Special thanks to my mom for occasional advice and help.