Paper Flight
Epic Long Distance Flyers
Flight Balancing
Aircraft fly best when they are balanced. What does this mean ?
All aircraft have what is known as the center of gravity, abbreviated to CG in aerodynamics. Ideally, the CG should be in-line with the wing's geometric center, which is known as the centroid of area (CA).
The CA plays an important part in designing a stable aircraft, and for for Paper Flight gliders, its ideal positioning is marked with an 'A' Symbol.
When the glider is constructed, if fortunate, the CG matches the CA location. Often, the CG is behind the CA position, and weight needs to be added until the position matches the 'A' Position
When the model is well balanced, it will tend to have good flight characteristics. For low-winged models, balancing takes place by inverting the model to balance it on the blades of the scissors.
