Elastic Launched Glider C

[wlsguy]

Nationals Report:

The top flight was 32.48 seconds
The top 10 scores (best 3 flights combined) were:
1- 92.09
2- 88.20
3- 83.42
4- 80.80
5- 75.38
6- 74.48
7- 73.17
8- 72.34
9- 71.57
10- 68.89

The average total for all teams was 37.93
9 of the teams used a Canard glider for at least one of their flights

I was happy with the results and the high level of competition. 50% of the teams had combined times > 30 seconds.
This tells me most teams learned how to fly a glider and analyze the data to make improvements (the real science behind the event).
Congratulations to all who participated.

[bjt4888]

Wisguy,
Thank you very much for the results. Is the exact ceiling height and unobstructed ceiling height known? Also, were there photos taken of the top gliders as in 2013?

Thanks,
Brian Turnbull
AMA 77545 and 342672 (off and on since 1972)

[wlsguy]

The event was in the CFE Arena Lobby i38 ft tall, 67 ft wide, 112 ft long ( according to the official measurements).
The room was a little more narrow at one end but was still 60 feet wide or so.
Photos were taken but were provided to the National office for inclusion on a future CD.

I will say the top 2 finishers had gliders similar to the Feathershooter or Stan Buddenbohm's design (but were not from kits). This design was popular and shared by a dozen other teams. The Freedom flight kit was also used by many teams (another 24 or so) and finished all across the board ( 3rd through 57th). No design showed any clear advantage. It all came down to the efforts of the individual students as it should be.

For those teams looking to win next year the key is practice, practice, practice. Taking good data so your flights are repeatable is also a must. Kits provided no clear advantage so save your money, buy some balsa, find a good plan, and plan on building several gliders.

Good luck

[plaid suit guy2]

The actual design allows for the gliders to attain a certain maximum time, but the ability to trim the gliders to the point where design honestly makes a difference doesn't truly exist at this level of competition. With the minimum weight, all that really ends up being important is a design that allows for consistency and the ability to easily trim the gliders. All the designs mentioned have this property, so it really then just comes down to the time that can be spent on the glider in order to learn how to work with it and get to know how it will behave.

[bjt4888]

Wisguy and Plaid Suit Guy2,
I agree with all of both of your comments in general. What I was wondering, and I thought pictures of the successful gliders would show, is if any of the teams attempted designs leaning toward AMA Category II parameters in order to take advantage of a 38' ceiling. For those that were at the competition, did you observe gliders transitioning near the ceiling? Just curious.

Thanks,
Bjt4888

[hmath729]

Hey just wondering,
Do you guys think that ELG is coming to div B?

[Unome]

Hey just wondering,
Do you guys think that ELG is coming to div B?

I thought that was already confirmed.

[hmath729]

Just checking...