Question

trying to make a glider, there is a suggestion that we make the fuselage out if wood and the wings out of styrofoam but there is a disagreement with people saying it wont work, saying wood fuselage and wood wings is better but the person that suggested foam says that way the glider is heavier and will fall faster.

any thoughts for materials to use on a small glider ?

Answer 1

A small glider can be built with cheap and easily accessible material. Materials selected should be lightweight and tough because of obvious reasons. Following material could be used:-

• Balsa wood is mostly preferred because weight of the model is to be kept as minimum as possible. The special quality of this wood is that it is very light and hence adequate for our purpose along with the fact that it has good enough strength to not to breakdown away in wind.
• Styrofoam is lightweight and strong which makes it an ideal material to construct model gliders. Styrofoam trays can be obtained from the meat department of a grocery store.