The first time I encountered gliders levitated and controlled by an invisible wave of deflected air, it felt like magic! Surely this was going to take the world by storm, the way Mentos and Soda swept the world as a science activity a few years ago.
But while researching the history of walkalong gliders, I was surprised to learn that the concept of surfing the gliders is decades old. Knowledge about them was cloistered within a few aerospace engineering and hang glider communities—definitely not in schools.
Now teacher Slater Harrison brings his Air Surfing Foam Walkalong Glider project to his classroom and to his site, Science Toy Maker.
The foam sheets are inexpensive to buy or slice your own–no one is excluded for lack of money. I find that kids around the age of 10 start having enough coordination to fly them… You don’t need to be flight savvy to start, but you have to pay attention to details.
He shares videos, glider variations, the history of the experiment, and other DIY science projects. An excellent resource for teachers, parents, and enthusiasts. Bonus: Glider Store.
Next: Hang Glide Over Yosemite National Park in 360 Degrees and Float, a documentary about rubber band-powered model airplanes.
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