Project 1.

2 Flight by Design (Modified)

Introduction
The Department of Education hereby calls for proposals to provide a glider design to
meet criteria provided. All submissions should have the primary design goal to be optimized for long distance,
straight-line flight through a contained medium e.g. indoor flight conditions.
You will design an original balsa wood glider that sustains flight for the longest possible distance. Use the
skills, knowledge, and understanding you have about how flight is possible. See how far you can design your
glider to go!

Glider Design Criteria

1.
2.
3.
4.

Sustain flight over the longest possible distance in a straight line

Be of original design with a creative style
Utilize standard AERY software designs
Efficiently and cleanly utilizes construction materials (e.g. balsa
wood and adhesives)
5. Be strong and durable enough to sustain form and performance
after test flights

Requirements
1. Complete Projects 1.2.10 & 1.2.11 to familiarize yourself with Aery.
2. In your journal: Describe the scientific and engineering principles upon which gliders are designed for
achieving long distance, straight line flight.
3. Record all flight test data and conditions. For each test flight, record your data in a table.
Fligh
t

Time Aloft
(seconds)

Distance
(feet)

Velocity
(feet/second)

Pitch
Stability

Directiona
l Stability

1.5s

23ft

13.33

yes

right

Changes Made
and Why
Added nose mass

2s

25ft

12.5

yes

straight

Added nose mass

4.

After each test flight series, make adjustments to the glider to improve flight performance.

5. Use your refined design to compete with your peers gliders for prizes and bragging rights :-P (following
the criteria outlined below)! Complete the competition rubric during / after the contest.
6. Explain differences between your gliders performance through flight-testing that was unexpected
based on the AERY software predicted flight characteristics.
7. After the final competition, explain your conclusion about optimal glider designs for long distance flight
based on everyones flight performance.
8. Present your design and findings in a poster.

Guidelines for the class competition

Each team will launch three flights.The first two flights will be launched from a table at an angle of
attack of 0. The third flight will be at an angle of attack chosen by the student.
Each team will be allowed to make final adjustments to their glider before each flight.
Gliders will be launched using the same catapult according to the instructions provided by your teacher.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be awarded to the gliders that accumulate the highest points. There will also
be an award for the furthest flight.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2011
AE Lesson 1.2 Activity 1.2.10Glider Design Challenge One Page 1

Competition Rubric - Point Summary Sheet

Aerodynamic Characteristics

Enter a rubric score

Main Wing and Stabilizer (shape, symmetry, alignment)

Leading and Trailing Edges (rounding, taper, straight)
Angles of Incidence (match to plans)
Construction (neatness, accuracy, gaps)
Appearance (neatness, creativity, appropriateness)
Durability (due to construction quality)
Design Features
Flight Performance
Flight Number

Distance (feet)

Pitch Stability

Directional Stability

25ft

level

straight

17ft

level

right

25ft

level

straight

Ave Distance

Ave Pitch

Ave Directional

21ft

level

straight

Flight Characteristics

Enter a rubric score

Distance (Straight line, <24', 24-36', >36')

Pitch Stability (Uniform descent, gentle pitching, drastic)
Yaw / Directional Stability (Straight, gentle turn, sharp curve)
Total Score: (50 Possible)

Glider Design: Competitive Flights

Rubric

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2011
AE Lesson 1.2 Activity 1.2.10Glider Design Challenge One Page 2

5 Points

4 Points

Aerodynamic
Characteristics
Main wing and
stabilizers

Category

Shaped correctly and

symmetrically and are
aligned

Correct in size, shape

and placement

Incorrect size, shape

or placement.

Aerodynamic
Characteristics
Leading and trailing
edges
Aerodynamic
Characteristics
Overall Design Scale
and Dimensions

Uniformly rounded
leading edges and
tapering trailing edges

Smooth and straight

Rough or uneven

Correct scale and

dimensions used

Minor issues exist with

scale / dimensions

Several issues with

scale /dimensions
exist

Construction

Neatly and accurately

constructed with joints
that are seamless

Neatly and accurately

constructed but with
small gaps and
imperfections in joints

Inaccurate with
significant or multiple
gaps or flaws

Construction
shows little
attention to
quality

Appearance

Decorations are neat,

creative, and attractive

Acceptable
appearance

Decorations sloppy /
unattractive

Little attention to
quality

Durability

Able to withstand
casual impacts with
little or no damage

Suffers damage on
casual impact due to
material failure, not
construction error

Suffers damage easily

or due to construction
errors

Fragile design

Design and
refinements
demonstrate an
understanding of
aerodynamics, the
production of lift, and
stability

Demonstrates a basic
understanding

Demonstrates a weak
understanding

Demonstrates
little or no
understanding

Flight Performance Flight Distance

Exceeds 36 feet

Exceeds 24 feet

Less than 24 feet

Flight Performance
Pitch Stability

Slopes uniformly
downward without
changes in pitch

Rises or sinks gently

(pitch)

Rises or sinks
dramatically (pitch)

Glider did not

launch or
structurally
failed during
flight.

Flight Performance
Yaw Stability

Level in a uniform
straight line without
changes in yaw

Curves gently left or

right (yaw).

Curves sharply left or

right (yaw)

Design Features

3 Points

2- 0 Points
Little
resemblance to
AERY design

Did you land in the box (bonus points)?

If your glider did not fly at least 36, subtract the number of feet that your glider was short from 50
points, and this will make up the second part of your grade.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2011
AE Lesson 1.2 Activity 1.2.10Glider Design Challenge One Page 3

Glider Poster Rubric

Elements

Title Information

Introduction &
Process Overview
X2
Flight Data and
Revisions
X2
Graphics AERY
Screenshot and
Picture of Glider

Organization / Flow

Grammar

Conclusion
X2

10 Points

7 Points

5 Points

All components required

for the title have been
listed in a professional
format
Provides a succinct,
accurate, complete
overview

Title contains all required

information but needs to be
formatted differently

Title is incomplete

Provides an accurate overview

of the project but needs more
information

Information is accurate
and thorough;
Proper aerodynamic
terminology is used
Pictures are clear and
professionally presented

Information is adequate

Does not provide a completely

accurate overview
OR
Is not presented well /
succinctly
Information inadequately
addresses topic or is
sometimes inaccurate

Pictures are acceptable

Pictures take away value from

your poster

The required information is The poster content has been

easy to locate within the
mostly organized using a logical
poster
sequence but some flaws exist.

The poster content is

disorganized

Punctuation, grammar,
usage, and spelling are
effectively used

Major errors in punctuation,

grammar, usage, and/or
spelling interfere with the
readability of the poster

Concisely states all key

points

Minor errors in punctuation,

grammar, usage, and spelling
are evident, but they do not
interfere with the readability of
the poster.
Acceptable but needs more
information

Wordy, confusing, or missing

most of the key points

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2011
AE Lesson 1.2 Activity 1.2.10Glider Design Challenge One Page 4