Front of Skyaak Model 3 w two ring-wings in tandem on a central shaft.

“Why does Skyaak fly?”

I asked Aerospace Engineer Dr. David Simpson, Head of the Institute for Aerospace Research at the National Research Council in Ottawa this question. He wrote me back a very thoughtful response which said in part, “The overall advantage of this aerodynamic approach (using two ring-wings riding in tandem on an inner shaft: my insertion) will be to gain structural weight savings without sacrificing aero efficiency and of course reducing the vortex induced drag.”

OK. I get the part about gaining structural weight savings. The ring-wings are really lightweight and have tensile (spring) strength that is partly thanks to the material as well as the design.

I also understand the part about reducing ‘vortex induced drag’. Reducing drag is good aeronautic design. The thing is, after flying the Skyaak around for a gazillion hours and seeing how well it works with a really good throw, I can’t help but think that there’s something more going on.

First of all, look how much wing surface there is before they get rolled up:

Skyaak ring-wings in their flat form

That’s quite a bit of wing. About 114 square inches each, or 228 square inches in total. 228 square inches of wing surface for a 24″ long flier is a decent ratio. So there’s no lack of wing. When it’s rolled into its proprietary ring-wing shape, it still has the large surface, only now it starts doing weird things in the air when it’s thrown properly. It spins on its axis, for one thing. And it seems to create its own vortex that it rides on, if that’s possible. We’ve seen the thing falter a bit and then correct itself in flight, as if it is riding along on a dynamic stream of air. I would sure like to get this thing into a wind-tunnel to find out more about its aerodynamic properties.

I’m certainly no aerospace engineer. I’m just going by first-hand experience here. I can tell you though that the Skyaak does some very interesting things in flight that I have not really had explained clearly by anyone I’ve asked to date. Why exactly does this configuration work so well? Why does it fly in such a stable trajectory? What are the actual physics of the thing? Does anybody know? I asked my buddy Cam Tetrault (Saskatoon-based R/C airplane-model builder and video artist) this very question and he thinks the Skyaak is basically a pimped up biplane, only the gap is closed between the two wings to form a ring. And there’s two of them. I guess that’s a beginning, but it still doesn’t explain the whole dynamic. I’m determined to find out in more detail why this configuration works. While it’s great fun to simply enjoy tossing it around to the oohs and aahs of witnesses, the chronic tinker-er in me wants to know more. The more clearly I understand the aerodynamic features, the better I can make it.

Side-view of Skyaak Model 3

Italian model-maker extraordinaire Patrizio Bronze created two CAD studies of wind-tunnel effects using the Skyaak and Esotec head Phillip Carter’s Hummingbird designs to conclude that both designs induce ‘positive incidence’ , better known as lift, when in forward motion. Lift is a good thing. If anybody out there has any more insights into why the Skyaak design behaves the way it does I would be very happy to hear from you.

CAD study of wind-tunnel effect on Hummingbird and Skyaak ring-wings.

Patrizio Bronze's second CAD study

If you wish to experience the sensation of Skyaak ring-wing flight before your very eyes, you can right now.

Grab the Skyaak DIY ‘deuce’ model that you can print on regular 8.5″ x 11″ paper, dope with clear tape, customize, cut-out, build and fly for the one-time cost of $2.00. Just remember to make a copy of your download before you cut it out so you can go on to build a whole fleet if you want!

Skyaak DIY deuce customized with Canada flag tape for a patriotic look.

Flip-Book look at DIY deuce taking off

It’s fairly difficult to capture images of the Skyaak DIY deuce in mid-flight because it goes so fast.  What I’ve done here is grab a series of frames from a recent video and lined them up ‘flip-book’ style just to give you an idea. This shows the beginning, just the first second or so (maybe less?) of its trajectory.  It would be nice to get some video of 2 players from the side to capture more of the aero-action. That is totally on my wish list right now. It’d be great to see how it spins on its axis for example, and how it describes such a tidy arc when flicked. But most important, how it happily maintains a certain balance and equilibrium even at very fast scale-speeds.

I think that is the coolest thing about the DIY deuce is that no matter how fast it flies, it seems to behave itself. This is due to the stabilizing effect of the ring-wings that is enhanced by the corkscrew motion.

Comin' Atcha!

Tom happily engaged in cutting out his Skyaak DIY deuce

After about 15 minutes, we had both built a DIY deuce…Tom decided to keep his plain Jane while I opted to decorate mine with Canada flag tape.  We were having so much fun that I neglected to take step-by-step photos. But I wanted to mention a couple of comments Tom made after we finished building our little gliders and had tossed them around the living-room for a while.

Tom was very pleased with how well the little gliders worked.  He got some really nice arc-shaped trajectories out of his unit, fully employing the ‘finger-flicker’ feature to his advantage.

He said that this would be a great activity for Dads and kids to do together.  He thought it was cool that the strange design really works as a glider and that it is so easy to control the flight path.  Tom suggested that we could create a game with a target…concentric circles like a dart board only bigger, with a cut-out hole in the center. A clean throw through the hole would be a bull’s eye! Once you have mastered accuracy from a certain distance, say 10 feet away, you would move further back for more of a challenge.

Tom built the ring-wings no prob.

I did manage to take a couple of shots…I am going to get a whole series next time somebody pops in to play.

Looking up the skirt of the Skyaak DIY

You can grab a Skyaak DIY ‘deuce’ right now to experience the rush of ring-wing flight in just a few easy steps!

Ambient shot of front of Skyaak as blue LED phases in

Sometimes things actually do go according to plan! Yesterday I built a box and packed up the latest prototype Skyaak Ultra-Glow …just a working name, will change…to send it flying off to Astral Media, headquarters of Z Tele in Montreal, PQ. I have been speaking with Genevieve Paradis, the Feature Director at Z Tele for a couple of weeks now as we get organized.

Genevieve had originally seen Skyaak when she visited our Long Island NY agents NewdaVincis.com. The owner phoned me to tell the exciting news that Ms. Paradis had requested a narrow field of six items from the NewdaVincis inventory.  Considering that there are at present over 630 items in stock, that is pretty cool! She has zeroed in on these products as candidates  that she wished to feature on the popular TV show  “Le Banc D’Essai du Peuple”, or “The Test of the People” that she produces. This show features host Mathieu Gratton as he presents innovative new gadgets, toys and devices to everyday people for their candid reaction, with an emphasis on home-grown ( North American ) products.  Aired nationally in Canada as well as in streaming video online, the show will be featuring Skyaak this fall.

Wish us luck!

Once she had the first pkg in her hot little hands, Ms. Paradis requested that we send her an additional unit, rigged up with our proprietary LED array that allows night-time play.

Dylan Cooke, AKA “the LED Guy” and I were excited to oblige Ms. Paradis’ request. Not only did we have lots of fun dabbling in some electronic gadgetry, we got solid results as you will see:

Powering up the LED array on the latest Skyaak prototype

We chose

I will take credit for coming up with this special feature: micro-skyaak inside the shaft!

Very spacey shot shows tiny Skyaak bathed in blue LED light

The LED transmits light to the tiny Skyaak inside the shaft.

It’s a great feeling to know that we have pulled it together in just a couple of days and now, as we speak, the Skyaak with LED array is flying off to Montreal where it will land directly in the hands of Ms. Paradis later this week! Hang on for the ride as Z Tele works it out to feature this puppy in live action! Don’t know about you, but we are stoked to see what they come up with. BTW, Z Tele specializes not only in featuring cool new inventions and gadgets, they also host a galaxy of sci-fi shows. Could this be the perfect storm to blow the lid off Skyaak…to launch it to the next level? We shall all just have to wait and see.

You can grab a Skyaak DIY ‘deuce’ right now to experience the rush of ring-wing flight in just a few easy steps!

Skyaak DIY 'deuce' ready to launch!

I’ve been working out with a guy named Evan Reiffersheid here who has proven to be an exceptionally great Skyaak enthusiast. I have been quizzing him quite extensively and here is what I am finding out. More accurately, he is simply confirming what I already know after all my experience with Skyaak.

Evan says, first of all, that he was easily able to figure out ALL BY HIMSELF five or six different throwing techniques for the Skyaak. This is thanks to the fact that he has a background in sports and is keenly interested in the skill set that enables him to excel with his Skyaak.

He went on to say that he loves Skyaak ( he rates it above Frisbee for excitement ) for many reasons. He claims that the Skyaak is valuable, stimulating and exciting to him because it functions as a TRAINER in these areas:

1) ambidextrous work-out

2) reflex builder

3) agility trainer

4) hand-to-eye coordination

5) muscle memory builder

This is an impressive list, and all of these areas get a solid, useful work-out whether you’re conscious of it or not. Evan also says that since he has independently developed five distinctly different throwing techniques, he finds the Skyaak to have long-lasting appeal. In fact, he says Skyaak has become one of his favorite leisure-time activities!

On a scale of 1-10, Evan rates Skyaak at a 8.5 or higher for overall excitement, interest, and training benefit.

Skyaak caught in mid-flight approx. air-speed 45 kph

You can grab a Skyaak DIY ‘deuce’ right now for just two bucks to experience the rush of ring-wing flight in a few easy steps!

Skyaak developer Dylan Cooke shows the latest Skyaak R&D advance, an LED light array that enables night-time play.

The request from the Feature Producer at Z Tele for a Skyaak ‘Ultra-Glow’ sent me scrambling into Saskatoon over the weekend to hook up with Dylan, who you will remember is one of the key developers of the LED accessory kit that we plug into the basic Skyaak Model 3 chassis to render it in brilliant light.  This of course takes the Model 3 to a whole new level of sophistication, making it glow for night-time play.

We have tried it out and found that the best way to throw and catch it successfully is simply to wear glow-in-the-dark bracelets so the guy throwing it has something to aim at. It’s pretty lame to just throw it wildly off into the dark!

You will see for yourself once you get into this that the object of Skyaak play is to make complete throws and catches. It’s not that great to chuck it into the dirt.  Much better to actually get it into your partner’s hands so he or she has a chance to feel the rush of the incoming energy transfer when it is snagged out of the air.

I just ran into a friend of mine who said that he bought a Model 3 two years ago and has put two summer’s worth of play into it. He reported that most of the time his Skyaak stays in the air.  That is, him and his two boys play with it lots and seldom throw it crazy. They make a point of taking a second to get focused and deliver it smartly into their recipient’s air-space. I’m sure it doesn’t always work out that way. There are times when you will crash it. Just try to be sensible and play in the grass so it has an optimum chance to survive the rough landing unscathed.

Remember, the Model 3 has been designed specifically to endure a lot of hard play, but you have to do your part like with any other flying toy to ensure it’s safety. For instance, in the R&D of the proprietary ‘ring-wing’ we burned through about seven different types of plastic until we arrived at the one with best flexibility, spring strength and shatter resistance. The object is to go hard, but try to fling it accurately enough so that your partner has a fair chance for completion of the pass. Think finesse.

I guess I’m getting a bit off-track here. I was  going to chat a bit about my time with Dylan putting together a couple of the Ultra-Glow accessory kits.

Dylan and I had a great time putting together the kits. I brought all of the components in that we needed to build the basic Model 3 chassis and Dylan whipped out his LED parts, tools and gadgets. Previous to this, I had some reservations about the viability of hand-building the Ultra-Glow accessory kits. It seemed that it was such a labor-intensive, complicated process that it would end up being cost-prohibitive. However, after we put our heads together this latest time we invented a few real time-saving process(es) that promise to streamline the production line. In fact, we are now confident that we now have the technology and techniques in place to make endless replications of the Ultra-Glow kit on demand.

It just goes to prove that perseverance really does pay off, big time. Dylan and I are both very comfortable in a production-line environment. It’s fun and satisfying to design jigs and templates that speed up and standardize production. For us, this organization of parts and process is one of the most rewarding parts of this whole learning curve.

Of course the MOST rewarding part is to get out of the lab to rock our Skyaak in the nearest park on a sunny day! And now we can go hard right into the night with the flick of a switch that cranks up the Ultra-Glow function! Woo-hoo! Are we having fun yet?

After I posted the video that shows the “Ultra-Glow” model in Dylan’s hands, I realized that you might actually like to see the Skyaak in action, being thrown and caught between real people in real live action.  It’s pretty difficult to imagine a glider gliding without seeing it…airborne.

This video was produced about three years ago now. Although in the grand scheme of things that is obviously not that long of a time-span, somehow it seems like forever ago.  High on my wish-list at this moment is a totally fresh new look for the Skyaak demo video. Don’t get me wrong, this video shows some pretty good footage of what the Skyaak is capable of.  It’s just that I’ve been spoiled since it was made by watching some of my more athletically-inclined friends SMOKE their Skyaak Model 3…exceeding 45 kph airspeed and executing some real power-house throws that nearly knocked me off my feet at the receiving end!  I am not kidding about this. Brother, catching this unit barreling in on you is like airborne bull-fighting!  You better have quick enough reflexes to step aside and grab it out of the air. Not that you will get hurt…no-one has yet…but it looks (and feels) SO much better if you have the hutzpah to pull it off!

There are a couple of clips in this video here that give you a lasting impression of the potentially explosive energy that can be channeled through a good clean, well-executed throw. Remember, it’s not really about brute force, it’s about finesse. The occasional person that can combine both effectively is where things get scary…I mean exciting.  Just you wait, I will be tabling some footage of high-performance Skyaak rumbles when I have the opportunity as it gets out to the right people. It will knock yer socks off when you see what kind of speed, accuracy and inertia can be coaxed out of the Model 3 in the right hands.

Speaking of which, maybe that person is YOU, or somebody you know…

FYI, the ‘Ultra-Glow”, for our more recent readers, is an amazing innovation that a fellow inventor and good friend came up with last year. It is the first full-blown accessory kit yet to be created for the basic Skyaak Model 3 chasis.  The producer at Z Tele must have a very good nose for innovation. Not only did she zoom in on Skyaak when she was checking into the array of over 630 cool products showcased at our Long Island NY agent NewDaVincis.com, she has now dug deeper and discovered the Ultra-Glow.  Wow, good eye!

I was thinking it would be very cool for Z Tele to touch on some of the design milestones and evolution of Skyaak from its earliest, read crude prototypes right up to the slick little DIY ‘deuce’. the Model 3 and beyond. It might be really neat to watch how the modest, extremely simple paper loops and drinking straw version has morphed over the years to its current relatively sophisticated incarnation.

Front of The Skyaak Model 3. Kinda slick, eh?

We will touch bases again with the producer in the next day or so to give her the exciting news that YES we will be mocking up a couple of fully electronic lit-up like crazy Ultra-Glow units and that she will have them within about 10 days!

I just had a tag-team of calls with my Ultra-Glow guy and we have decided to fast track this thing. We’re getting together in two days at his place in Saskatoon to scramble together not 2 but 3 units. We’re going to install a light kit that fires an intense black-light LED from just behind the nose back into the shaft and another from the rear that will beam another black-light LED blast forward.

There will be a full-spectrum random strobe LED mounted at the center of the nose cap and glow-in-the-dark rings to be mounted on the front of each Skyaak ring-wing. As if that wasn’t enough dazzle, the icing on the cake will be the translucent balls inside the shaft that suck up the black light like a full moon and hurtle up and down the shaft, depending of course on the CG of the moment.

Do NOT get me started here, friends.

Looking back at what I have just written I am struck by the unsettling notion that it reads like techno-goobledegook unless you happen to have a clue what I’m talking about! Please no, not another GEEKY blog!

Really, if you have a few minutes to check out the video above called “Skyaak Ultra-Glow R & D Advance” you will totally know what I’m going on about.

Early hand-built Skyaak Ultra-Glow prototype.  It gets better!

And stay tuned…Z Tele seems bound and determined to tear the lid off this thing. You can rest assured that I will be asking them to post the segment on YouTube and that you will see it right here as soon as it comes out! It will be a blast to see what they come up with.

The future at Skyaak R&D is brilliant!