Zen Glider
Walkalong gliders are super cool but I wanted a more accessible and convenient version of it. The main issue is transport since they get squashed. The other is you need a piece of cardboard to fly them so that’s a lot of baggage.
I was able to get one together with a cardboard holder fits in your pocket and is about the size of your smart phone. The glider is a paper-thin slice of foam with some folds and a curly nose made from paper. It’s flight performance is very pleasing with a slow-gentle glide.
You fly the glider using the cardboard to push air.
How It’s Made
This is a very green project reusing cardboard from the Ottawa Public Library and other sources. The paper are cutoffs from another project and the foam is reuse as well.
This is such a fun project with a collection of fabrication methods.
The holder is cut on a CNC laser cutter, folded then glued. It is finished using a laser cut stencil, children’s paint using a spritzer.
The glider is made from Styrofoam using a bow foam cutter to make the shape, then a foam slicer to make it thin.
It is then stamped with three colors of ink (stamp was made on a cnc laser cutter).
Lines are pressed for the folds, then curly-nose paper ballast is attached with tape, curled with a sharp edge then trimmed to balance the plane.
How Does It Fly?
Some explanation on how the glider flies.
I Want One!
I’ve marked the carriers by stenciling with a spritzer. The coolest thing is the different cardboard gives it character. So are my favorite is one with a shipping label on it for the library. Get a glider.
Project Progress
What to name it? Here are the working names so far: Sidestep, High 5, Bill the Glider, WiO – Wip It Out!, Zanonia, Zen-onia or Zen, Zan, Pocket Pilot
Business Card Version
I did some experiment with a smaller version and found it was very easy to fly with just your hands. In fact I found I could fly a smaller one with just one hand. So I decided to shrink it right down to fit in a business card holder and then design a cardboard business card holder. Here are some shots from prototype testing at the Ottawa Public Library.
Related
How about Pocket Pilot?
Great idea. I think what I’ll do is make up a bunch of stencil for decorating the box and have a party. Then see which ones people use or if they laser there own…
Don’t leave home without it!
Yesterday at the Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown NH, USA I could have used one of these to show the concept… it would be a must have in a conversation.
I don’t know how I ever lived without it. 🙂
Want me to send you one?
Oh gee I thought maybe your were naming it after me, ha ha.
Bill Kuhl
hahaha, you can say that anyway… In the end I shifted the name to WiO Glider… it was a suggestion that came in.
These remind me of this vine seed: http://blogs.bu.edu/biolocomotion/2011/09/25/gliding-vine-seeds/
Thanks for the note and the link! I’ve got an article on that actually at http://www.endlesslift.com/2011/12/seed-dispersal/
Also check out this Zanonia Glider! http://www.endlesslift.com/2011/11/foam-zanonia-glider/