Tumblewing
Encyclopedia
A tumblewing is a paper airplane which rotates about a horizonal axis. Its mode of flight
is more akin to confetti
than traditional fixed wing aircraft; However, several model aircraft
have been built with tumbling wings for lift (force)
. Because it has no need for ballast, the tumblewing design has a lower wing loading and makes a good walkalong glider
which is easy to make and fly.
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
is more akin to confetti
Confetti
Confetti is a multitude of pieces of paper, mylar or metallic material which is usually thrown at parades and celebrations, especially weddings . Confetti is made in a variety of colors, and commercially available confetti is available in imaginative shapes...
than traditional fixed wing aircraft; However, several model aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
have been built with tumbling wings for lift (force)
Lift (force)
A fluid flowing past the surface of a body exerts a surface force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag force, which is the component of the surface force parallel to the flow direction...
. Because it has no need for ballast, the tumblewing design has a lower wing loading and makes a good walkalong glider
Walkalong glider
A walkalong glider is a lightweight, slow flying model aircraft designed to be kept aloft by slope soaring in the lift generated by a paddle held by the pilot who walks along with the glider as it flies. Hands or even the forehead can also be used to do this...
which is easy to make and fly.
See also
- GlidingGlidingGliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
- Orographic liftOrographic liftOrographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
- Slope soaring
- controllable slope soaringControllable slope soaringControllable-slope soaring is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow the airplane in gliding flight, both sustaining and controlling the airplane's trajectory by modifying the wind in the vicinity of the airplane. A controllable slope is any object which can be used to affect the...
- Human-powered aircraftHuman-powered aircraftA human-powered aircraft is an aircraft powered by direct human energy and the force of gravity; the thrust provided by the human may be the only source; however, a hang glider that is partially powered by pilot power is a human-powered aircraft where the flight path can be enhanced more than if...