Rocket Glider Plans
 

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Rocket Glider Event Rules

FOR 1/4A - 1/2A MOTORS
Nymph	Geoff Landis created the Nymph in 1974 when consistent, reliable rocket gliders were the exception rather than the rule. The Nymph was an instant success, and still remains a competitive design today, particularly in the low-power events.

 

FOR 1/2A - A MOTORS
Jabberwock 15	Jeff Vincent's design from 1989. This design was developed over a ten year period starting with the one Jeff used to earn a place on the 1979 U.S. space modeling team. It is designed for the A rocket glider event.
Julie Bird 7	The Julie Bird series of rocket gliders appeared during the 1970's. The Julie Bird 7 employs a wing mounted on a sliding box to change the glider's geometry from the boost-phase to the glide-phase of the flight. It was designed for 1/2A3-2T motors, but has been flown with A mini motors too. Suitable for beginners.
Status 4	Sport Rocketry editor, Tom Beach, created this slide-wing glider back in 1979. Simple and reliable (a characteristic of slide-wings), this design was featured in the Holdiay 1995 issue of Sport Rocketry.
Xebec-IIIa	The Xebecs are a family of pop-elevator rocket gliders designed by George Gassaway. This variant appeared after the old LAC Competition Handbook was published. Chad Blair set an A division record of 172 seconds with his Xebec at ARC-7 back in 1978. This Xebec is designed for 1/2A and A mini motors.
Seagull 25	The NAR President set a US record in A Rocket Glider with this design at ETR-10. Mark's 343 second record has since been surpassed, but the Seagull is still a competitive design for the A motor class.

 

FOR B - C MOTORS
The Gull	The Gull was created by Peter O'Neill for the C Rocket Glider event. This swing-wing features a 24" wing-span, and first appeared in the August 1976 issue of the Model Rocketeer. Swing-wings are not particularly easy rocket gliders to build, but if you are careful, you might have to build another one because your first one thermaled away!
Nocturne 11x17 sheet	Jeff Vincent's 3rd place entry for B R/G at NARAM-25. The Nocturne is a slide wing rocket glider suitable for B and C motors. It is rugged and easily trimmed by repositioning the wing. Remember to test fly before flying at a meet!
Stiletto B	George Gassaway's Stiletto series of rocket gliders have earned a reputation for stability and contest-winning flights. The Stiletto was once offered as a kit by North Coast Rocketry.
Stiletto C	C-sized version of George Gassaway's Stiletto rocket gliders.
XP-2b	This version of the XP-2 swing wing rocket glider was modified by Chris King for the B Rocket Glide event. This glider has a 24" wing span.
XP-2c	The XP-2 swing wing rocket glider was presented by its inventor, Al Nienast, in the January 1980 issue of the Model Rocketeer. Swing-wings were stigmatized by reliability problems due to partially-deployed wings, but Al Nienast refined the swing wing concept to create very reliable rocket glider. The chief advantage of the swing wing is low profile drag on boost, and a increased wing area for glide. The glider that appears here features a 30 inch wing span, and is designed for the C Rocket Glide event.

 

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