Launchers

[vjindal]

Last year at Nationals, the ceiling was extraordinarly high. We were not able to utilize it fully. I was wondering if anyone had some good ideas on making a launcher(other than just a dowel and a rubber band).
Also I heard something about a restriction on the length of the rubber band this year. Is that true?
Thanks in advance.

[Bazinga+]

Rubber launchers are fine, you just need the right rubber. It all comes down to experimenting with rubber of different thickness. If you are not getting the height you want try some thicker rubber (there are many places to buy custom rubber). It's possible to use a spring to launch it, but I don't recommend that. Not sure about the rubber restriction, think that's only for wright stuff/ helicopters.

[vjindal]

Bazinga+ wrote:
Rubber launchers are fine, you just need the right rubber. It all comes down to experimenting with rubber of different thickness. If you are not getting the height you want try some thicker rubber (there are many places to buy custom rubber). It's possible to use a spring to launch it, but I don't recommend that. Not sure about the rubber restriction, think that's only for wright stuff/ helicopters.

Thanks for the quick reply.
I was still thinking of a rubber launcher for a design, just one with a long rubber band. I have seen at Nationals and other competitions that the longer the rubber band, the higher the gliders were able to fly. I have seen a multitude of designs ranging from a meter long dowel to some other more unique designs. I was just wondering what you think might be best.

[jander14indoor]

Read through the forum, you'll find a number of suggestions discussed in some detail already in a dedicated string specifically asking for help on launchers.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[vjindal]

jander14indoor said:
Read through the forum, you'll find a number of suggestions discussed in some detail already in a dedicated string specifically asking for help on launchers.

Which strings are you referring to? The only suggestions I have seen are a dowel and a rubber band. I was thinking something more sophisticated such as a way to get the rubber band to be very long but still an ergonomic design.

Thanks!

[0ddrenaline]

I know that our middle school team uses meter sticks with rubber bands attached. It's definitely long enough, and it is a good way to keep a consistent length when pulling the rubber back.

[jander14indoor]

http://www.scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=211&t=8395

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI