Glider Challenge

by FliteTest | October 28, 2013 | (53) Posted in Challenges

Building around a swappable fuselage design, Josh and David create their own glider designs.

Both of the designs were created using cheap dollar tree foam board.

Flite Test viewers submitted challenge ideas and the gliders were built around those suggestions.

This glider is now available as a Speed Build Swappable Kit! Check out the web store or click the link below to download the free plans and watch how to build your own!

Thanks again for all of your support! 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

jerimiah85 on October 28, 2013
When can we expect a build on this glider? This is what I've been waiting for.
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iZilly on October 30, 2013
yes.. i am excited for that.. i want to make it without the motor.. just want it as a slope plane :D
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casehatter on October 28, 2013
cool man
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eagle4 on October 28, 2013
absolutely fantastic. did you say it was flying on a blue wonder? amazing, what battery was in josh's plane?
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IcyBird on October 28, 2013
Great job! Can't wait tell the plans ;)
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Ben Presten on October 29, 2013
Show us a little about the glider with the Bird of Time wing that David threw.
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pichettem on October 29, 2013
They did a review on the Bird of Time a while back. Check out the video here. http://flitetest.com/articles/dynaflite-bird-of-time
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28th St. Air on October 29, 2013
Awesome!!! Loved it when David tossed one glider away and picked up the Monstrosity!!! Yeah!!! Would really like to see you come up with a Monstrosity wing that resists the fatal “extreme dihedral” feature that also breaks down to be transportable.
As you may know, Ed at EXAirines has some great ideas for wing designs that break down. Perhaps there could be a swappable wing concept where a Bixler sized wing and a Windestal Thermal wing could be swapped on a common fuselage??? Also, if these do go on to be marketed, make sure you work up a part number for "The Chad Launcher", so people can order Chad to come and high start their gliders. :)
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rockets4kids on October 29, 2013
I'm sure they know that, and my guess is the only reason they did not use a carbon fiber rod (or arrow shaft) is that it falls outside of the Flite Test "common materials list."

While most wal*marts seem to carry the $3.50 carbon fiber arrows, not all of them do, including the one near me. Shipping from an on-line retailer was cheaper than gas to the nearest wal*mart that had them, so that is the route I took.

It is worth noting that a carbon fiber arrow shaft weights practically nothing compared to a sheet of foam board. A typical sheet of foam board (with paper but no tape) weighs about 140 grams, while a carbon fiber arrow shaft weights only about 15 grams.

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FlairFan on October 29, 2013
Excellent!! Both are fantastic. My first kit was also a Goldberg Gentle Lady!! Nice job keeping that same spirit going. Josh's is the more "utilitarian", but David's speaks to the "thermal hunter"!
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Michael9865 on October 29, 2013
Great Ideas, I like seeing the two different interpretations of the glider concept. Awaiting the plans to add to my to build this winter pile. :-)
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Crashpilot1000 on October 29, 2013
That dog escaped the chinese restaurant.
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tramsgar on October 29, 2013
Great job, guys! Really entertaining.
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Deryck on October 29, 2013
Deryck October 29,2013
Can not wait for plans Awesome.
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Flynn on October 29, 2013
You guys have done it again! Great episode! Hopefully plans will be available soon. Thanks FT!
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adergotardo on October 29, 2013
And the crowd yell: Plans! Plans! Plans! Plans! Plans…
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Driveandairsmash on October 29, 2013
Lol love glider combat it looks like everything is in slow motion when you do glider combat c: I want the monstrosity plans! The thing looks huge and fun!! I could probably sit on it and fly me up into the air!
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sailorJohn on October 29, 2013
How about some slope gliding from the top of the warehouse or better yet you could go to Exuma island ,stay at Emerald bch resort. About a mile away Stocking island has a good slope that catches a strong easterly breeze. Maybe tax deductible. I tried (unsuccessfully , lost a friends plane for two days) but Steve flew quite well.
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sailorJohn on October 29, 2013
Basically these are very close to Ed's PHOTON but much lighter and not as durable ,now how to lighten up the Photon , nothing wrong with improving a good design.
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jg on October 29, 2013
could you do a scratch build on the aula or a plane based on that glider?
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rockets4kids on October 29, 2013
When I first discovered the alula I checked to see if people had done any scratch-built copies. They have, and they fly quite well. I don't think I bookmarked them, but i'm sure you can find them with the google...

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28th St. Air on October 30, 2013
check out this video and the host's other vids. http://youtu.be/Ox2jqM7MxGE
he does some cool stuff that is glider related.
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1flip5 on October 29, 2013
Can`t wait for the FT Elements Tow/Drop piece! Please Hurry!
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lracnolip on October 29, 2013
Another great show, can't wait for the build planes. Would like to see a show where the glider is towed by another FT plane, blender, old fogy or a new one designed to tow the FT glider.

Thank you for making this hobby fun =D
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FlairFan on October 29, 2013
We had a short-lived soaring club that used the 'kite start' a lot. A nylon parachute works much better than a streamer for coming off the hook... once the line goes slack, it opens up and pops right off!
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Captain Crash on October 29, 2013
ok i have every one on my thread asking for a swappable edf or pulse jet can you guys make that happen
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Battershell on October 29, 2013
Simply awesome guys!
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bastinat0r on October 29, 2013
I'd love to see a build video on David's Wing – the airfoil looks amazing and maybe you can even build a cheap DLG with a similar airfoil that's more rigid.
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CaptChilko on October 29, 2013
I would love to see a foamboard dlg!
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CaptChilko on October 29, 2013
What is that glider David has at the start?! I want to build it!
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Hell2Go on October 29, 2013
Make the plan and we will build it!!!
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Fire1 on October 29, 2013
Make a pumkin drop challenge!!!!
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Javieruriel on October 30, 2013
Can i bind this glider with my dx6i?
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Miracle Air on October 30, 2013
You will put a receiver in when you build it, so if you put in a Spektrum receiver you cand bind it with your dx6i. I like Orange Rx from Hobby King. $6.
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mudman1959 on October 30, 2013
I did a glider from Dollar Tree foamboard that sort of resembled a "Gentle Lady" with a bigger wing... It flew good for what it was until one fateful day my depth perception was off and I landed it in the top of a 30 foot tree... mudman1959

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uee0VZNxIFo
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darth paul on October 30, 2013
need plans now.

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apnewton on October 30, 2013
Great episode. One of your best. More gliders please.
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artiom shevchenko on October 30, 2013
nice! davids is best, al he needs is some re-inforcements. A big glider of foamboard...thats awesome!(and use next time a fuse prop)
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Miracle Air on October 30, 2013
You know, it wouldn't be that hard to include an optional center section in Josh's wing as an option, to get the best of both worlds. You could do a straight wing as well, include ailerons and make it a warm liner. Swappable wings, in other words.
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Miracle Air on October 30, 2013
Optional as an option... Fine writing, that!
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unleaded on October 31, 2013
at our club we had a challenge to build a CARDBOARD model criteria was it had to totally made from cardboard except for motor mount and or control rods etc i made an lecky rc twin boom model ,another member built a IC control line twin boom model while the third was a 1200 mm span lecky glider , all models flew and stayed together for level flight and loops

it was a lot of fun

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Slartibartfast42 on October 31, 2013
Wait, wait, wait! Here's this beautiful stick fuse glider with Bird of Time wing tips. but we're not showing that one. WWWHHHHHAAAAAA?
Really, really want.
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George Gottshall on October 31, 2013
Great episode!!! When will plans be made available? Could this be towed by the cropduster?

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Mirabile Visu on October 31, 2013
That was the most entertaining RC video I've ever seen. I laughed out loud several times. Wonderful (sorry, awesome.....)
Keep up the great work, and thank you.
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FarmStormer on October 31, 2013
Are you gunna put it in the store?
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Ion Rc on October 31, 2013
Will Josh's work as a DLG? if not can you try to make one like the one David had at the beginning? I know David said you couldn't, but what does he know about DLGs ;)
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Paulshort on October 31, 2013
Could you tell us more about the bird of time wing glider that you had at the start


Paul
email paul@rexshort.co.nz

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Martino on November 1, 2013
David the first one would be ultra light glider prototype?
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wrench797 on November 2, 2013
I would love plans and/or a build video for Josh's glider. Thats exactly what I have been looking for.
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dahuchy on November 15, 2013
"I landed it!"

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hunterradiocontrol on November 25, 2013
hey guys! i found a broken bixler 2 on the road it was totally broken. no wings, no nothing, only fuselage. with your help, i finally fixed it and ordered electronics . hope it flies, THANKYOU
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Christopher14 on December 5, 2013
Awesome!
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Ceramic on December 29, 2013
Very nide episode guys, I really love your stuff.
As the plans are online now I would really like to build one myself, however I do not know how to get my hands on "dollar tree foam board" I live in the Netherlands and do not know if we have a dutch equivalent for it??? As I see in the build video it seems to be foamboard with paper glued to one side, is this correct? Anyone any suggestions?

Thnaks and keep up the fun and good work !!!
Ton. (ceramic999@gmail.com)
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Ceramic on December 29, 2013
what was the thickness of the board that you used? It appears I found a site in The Netherlands that sells it, they offer 3mm and 5mm thickness??

Thanks
Ton.
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schlechtbar on February 21, 2014
Glider plans going to be available soon?
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out of the box on April 17, 2014
you should reinforce the wing spar with a carbon fiber rod..or bad things like that would happen -_-

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AngelOne on February 27, 2020
Will the plans for David's glider come out?
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Glider Challenge