Undergraduate Engineering Practical Project · Designer & Builder · 2021.05 · Published: 2021-06-01
Balsa Wood Model Glider Project
Designing and testing a lightweight glider for maximum flight distance
- Problem
- An introductory engineering project involving the design, construction, and experimental testing of a balsa wood glider to improve its flight distance and stability.
- My role
- Designer & Builder
- Outcome / stage
- The project provided an initial understanding of aerodynamics, weight distribution, and lightweight structural design. It also introduced the fundamental engineering process of designing, building, testing, and iterating a physical prototyp…
Drawn from the project record; read the full account for team and personal responsibilities.
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01 · Video
03 · Introduction
This introductory engineering project focused on designing and building a balsa wood model glider capable of achieving the longest possible flight distance.
Balsa wood was used as the primary structural material. The project explored how wing geometry, body structure, center of gravity, and overall weight affected flight distance and stability.
04 · Project Process
Created the initial structural sketches
Constructed the wings, fuselage, and tail using balsa wood
Adjusted the wing angle and center of gravity
Conducted multiple flight tests and recorded the results
Refined the design based on experimental observations
05 · Outcome
The project provided an initial understanding of aerodynamics, weight distribution, and lightweight structural design. It also introduced the fundamental engineering process of designing, building, testing, and iterating a physical prototype.