Flexie Glider and Booster

The Purpose !

I like Glider Recovery Rockets and this was a challenge for NARAM 40. One of the competitions was 1/2A Flexie. After I found out what it was and what a Flexi Glider was I just had to do one. After a lot of trial and error I finally got one to work !!!

To make this rocket I use a Viking body tube and nose cone and the clear tube section of a X-Ray. The yellow coupler was cut from the engine fitting guide that comes with most kits. For the fins I used very thin ultralight balsa wood to save weight since it will be flying on 1/2A engines at NARAM 40

In a Flexie rocket the glider folds and gets inserted into the rocket tube. The glider is ejected with the nose cone and the wings unfold with the help of a rubber band. I used a clear tube for I needed a longer body and it is what I had at the time (plus it looks neat).

This is the Glider and here is one of the wings folded with a close up of the mechanism used to allow this. The only really difficult part of this project was gluing the plastic to the wood. NOTHING worked. What I ended up doing was using tape to affix the plastic to the wood. I also plan to add two squirts of Orange paint to make it easier to track !

I plan to test fly it this Sunday at a SPAAR Launch.

I solved the oscillation problem when I discover that a little glue for weight on a wing tip dried in a curved shape and acted like an aileron. I broke this free and instantly fixed the glides.

I got a 31 second and a 30 second flight but the second was DQ'ed for unsafe recovery when the booster took a 3" core sample.

The motor had a really strong ejection charge and actually RIPPED the Kevlar® shock cord clean through the body !! Wow to say the least I reattached and never had a problem since !

I also realized that I had the SMALLEST glider there as well. My glider can fit in the palm of your hand. At least I did not have to chase mine for several miles if I wanted it back. . . just a couple of hundred meters for me :-)

After I make a NEW improved version I plan to LOSE this glider on a C6-7.

Imagine 30 seconds on a 1/2A6-2 now image SAME rocket on C6-7.

HEHEHE can we say NEVER see again and if I get it back I will retire it and record its flight time :-)