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bounce-glider
Bungee chord Hang-glider you jump up and down under to provide power | |
The bounce-glider is similar to a regular hang-glider. The pilot is hanging below the wing. However, they are attached to the wing with two 6ft and 8ft lengths of bungee chord. The pilot does not lie prone . Instead they hang underneath more like a parachutist or paraglider pilot. The first bungee chord
is attached to the pilot's shoulders to keep him/her vertical while the second is attached to his/her feet.
The flight motion is like a roller coaster; pitching up and down repeatedly. This causes the wing to rise and fall relative to the pilot a bit like the end of a bird's wing.
As this is happening the pilot bounces on the longer chord with his legs. This accelerates the wing on the downward stroke thus providing extra lift and thrust.
On a normal hang-glider the pilot steers with a triangular framed bar. This will not work with the bounce glider. Maybe a much deeper version which extends telescopically containing an internal spring might allow the pilot to steer while bouncing?
Sort of like this, but upside down?
http://www.trampofoil.com/
[Ling, Dec 06 2006]
Same thing, more photos
http://ourworld.com...erthodgen/tramp.htm
(They are not currently available) [Ling, Dec 06 2006]
A work-in-progress?
http://www.jumpnfly....de/ni.htm?ni5e.htm
Oh, those crazy Germans! Seems the last update was 1999. Has he given up? [Canuck, Dec 08 2006]
[link]
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I know nothing of flight and its requirements but I would try your contraption out for you. |
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May I please bun that link? |
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The German in the link might have come up against the biggest obstacle to human powered flight - the lack of technology and equipment currently available which would be light enough and strong enough to handle the task. It seems most flight theoreticians agree that flapping wing flight is more efficient than propeller-driven. (When was the last time you saw a bird with a propeller on it?) |
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Everytime I fly though a flock of seagulls? |
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I think what you're seeing is a propeller with a bird on it. |
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Either way, THAT was funny. |
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I'm sure with a bit of thought we could overcome any control issues. |
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If we added ailerons and a tail with elevator and a rudder, then these could be controlled by a flight computer to add stability. I wonder if it would be the smallest aircraft to use fly by wire. |
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