CONSTRUCTION OF "PIPPIN 2000" HAND LAUNCH GLIDER

1. WING

1.1 Select a piece of light, straight-grained ¼"" balsa.

1.2 Cut wing outline to plan. Keep as 1 piece for now (not 2 as on plan!)

1.3Using a balsa plane and/or sandpaper, sand the balsa to the thicknesses shown, not putting in any aerofoil section yet, but keeping the section rectangular.

1.4 Mark lightly on the top surface the line of maximum wing thickness.

1.5 Sand the wing to aerofoil section, using the specimen section on the plan as a guide. The line of maximum thickness must not be removed in the process.

1.6 Cut the wing into 4 pieces at the dihedral breaks.

1.7 Sand chamfers onto the section ends to allow neat joins when they are

placed at their correct dihedral angles.

1.8 Epoxy the outer panels to their inner panel and allow it to set.

1.9 Epoxy the two wing halves together.

1.10 Sand a flat on the bottom of the centre dihedral join to mate with the fuselage front.

1.11 Check that the wing halves weigh the same by balancing the wing upside down. Add small nails to the light tip if necessary to balance.

2. FUSELAGE FRONT

2.1 Select a piece of hard balsa for this piece - it MUST be strong.

2.2 Cut to the shape on the plan. Cut out a space for the lead weight

2.3 Roughen the glass fibre tube, then epoxy fuselage front into place.

2.4 Round off edges which will be exposed after assembly.

3. TAIL AND FIN

3.1 Select a piece of light but flat balsa for these.

3.2 Cut to the plan outline.

3.3 Round the edges. A lifting section tail is not recommended.

4. ASSEMBLY

4.1 Epoxy the tailplane and fin to the glass fibre tube.

4.2 Epoxy the wing to the fuselage front.

4.3 Glue fine sandpaper in place to form finger grips.

4.4 Glue ¼" triangular gussets to strengthen the wing attachment.

4.5 Make and glue on triangular finger tabs to prevent the trailing edge being broken in the launch.

4.6 Glue on the Mylar trim tab.

4.7 Give the completed model a single coat of 50% thinned clear dope.

4.8 Add name, address, phone number, and bright wing tips if possible to aid recovery - it can go a long way!

4.9 Epoxy in pieces of lead to achieve the correct balance point. Smooth off the result with extra epoxy.

4.10 A dethermaliser is not often needed in this country, but fit one if you're getting good!

5. FLYING

5.1 Choose a calm day for test flights.

5.2 Trim out elevator to achieve a gentle glide from a steady, level launch.

5.3 Trim rudder to get a gentle left turn.

5.4 Try half power launches at 45-60 degrees to the horizontal before full power ones. Launch with right bank, to achieve a gentle transition from climb to glide. Always imagine you're trying to hit the same point in the sky to get consistent launches. Trim out as necessary – experience counts here!

5.5 Expected performance

- 35-40 seconds in unhelpful air

- get your running shoes on if you hit a thermal!

- flights of under 5 seconds show great promise - it's nearly trimmed right - keep at it.

Stuart Ord