Grab the DIY 'deuce'
Trying to decipher and figure out the design of the flat version of Skyaak so you can cut it out and build it is, well, quite tricky your 1st time around. There’s no denying that. Unless you are a mechanical whiz-kid, you will find it fairly…how do I put this…strange.
Cut out shaft
I am here to tell you though, once you slog through the cutting out and assembly of your 1st Skyaak (we’re talking the DIY ‘deuce’ version here) you will find that the 2nd time around it is much much easier!
Roll into 3-sided shaft
That’s a promise. That’s the beauty of a template download that you are free to replicate. After you have worked it out the 1st time, you will find that you de-mystify the process and that the 2nd time will take only a fraction of the time it took you to figure it out to begin with. Once you get into it, you will be able to cut out and build a DIY ‘deuce’ in only about 15 minutes or so.
Like this.
As you know, once you cover the pages with cellophane (packing) tape, your ring-wing glider is
virtually indestructible. It just so happens that the strength of the paper (that acts as a scaffold only) coated with cellophane tape is the perfect combination of materials to provide a springi-ness and rip-resistant unit for a tough little glider that you can toss around to your heart’s content.
Cut out ring-wings
So go ahead and try it out. For just a couple of bucks you can experience the aerodynamic properties of ring-wing flight in the comfort of your own home.
Make a cone shape
Not only that, you will get a glimpse into the design that has made Skyaak possible…that suspends a rigid shaft in the center of a three-sided opening, held smack dab in the center of two ring-wings in tandem on the shaft.
Build a 3-sided opening
Combined with the ballast weight (that you supply- three paper clips) and finger-flicker ( the slightly modified paper clip… I guess that’s a fourth) you have a very cool. highly functional working model that I bet will will have you saying, “Hmm. That’s pretty neat! It glides really well!”
Slide ring-wings onto shaft
I just re-read this post and I can only imagine the eyes of my readers glazing over…see? I told you that this design concept is a bit out of the ordinary. It’s actually pretty difficult to explain without showing you. That’s why we produced the demo video as well, that shows you how to cut out and assemble this little unit as a primer so you see that it makes sense.
Front and rear ring-wing on shaft
We’re planning to do a follow-up video with a couple of buddies of mine in the next little while. Don’t you think it would be fun to see the DIY ‘deuce’ flying around a bit? It’s pretty difficult to capture on video, because when you flick it it glides really fast.
Make the finger flicker
I’m not sure what the scale air-speed is but if the Model 3 is any indication, it’s PDQ! We got the Model 3 on radar and we know that it gets up to 43 kph over a distance of 50 feet or so.
Fasten front wing with 3 paper-clips
I am going to try a couple of different things to get the DIY ‘deuce’ on film, like have it flying against a dark background and have my two friends toss it back and forth while I try to pan with my camera to follow the trajectory. Big word for flight path.
Ready to launch!
Filed under: Skyaak R and D by mrgaudet
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