Question on how to make light, but sturdy wings!

[Indiana Speed!]

I have already made a Rocket that has 2 Small Wings, kinda like a Airplane Wing. Now, that I want to venture into more of a gliding rocket plane, i'll of course need bigger, and more sturdy wings.

I used balsa wood with cardstock on my wings with my previous rocket, but I had very few expectations that I wanted that version to glide. My new version will be much more bigger, using BT-80 Body Tubes, and it will be roughly about 42inches long.

I do not currently have my design on my computer, its just on some computer paper that I have taped together to make the layout of the rocket. I plan on having it glide somewhat after it comes back down, sometime after its apoggee. I was thinking about either FOAM Boards that I have used before with making sturdy engine mount holdings, or should I just go with Balsa Wood. I believe that the FOAM Boards would be the best idea, because cardstock is already on its exterior. I just don't think Balsa Wood would be sturdy enough or perhaps light enough for my scratch built rocket to somewhat glide down.

Any suggestions, Balsa Wood, some other wood, or do you think I should just use some FOAM Boards for my wings? The wings will be one of the most important pieces on my rocket, so I want it to be as near perfect as possible for gliding conditions!

Thank you!

 

[Indiana Speed!]

Anyone else have any experience in making good sturdy, light weight wings? My rocket is different compared to most others, so I doubt anyone here has tried what I'm trying to do with the Wings.

I'm gonna go with the FOAM Board Wings from Staples if no one has an suggestion about this.

I will post pictures of it being built sometime in the near future.

 

[RoyGreen]

Originally posted by Indiana Speed!
Anyone else have any experience in making good sturdy, light weight wings? My rocket is different compared to most others, so I doubt anyone here has tried what I'm trying to do with the Wings.

I'm gonna go with the FOAM Board Wings from Staples if no one has an suggestion about this.

I will post pictures of it being built sometime in the near future.

Yea, I think we'll need pictures or drawings to see just what you're talking bout. I'm having a hard time visualizing things from your description.

Since you say you want to glide it down, I'm assuming from your description that your design is a standard, motor-in-the-rear rocket, but with wings mounted somewhat forward in addition to the normal fins at the rear. Am I close?

A few basic questions first. How long have you been flying rockets? how old are you? are you familiar with boost gliders and rocket gliders (such as Estes' Eagle B/G, or their RC gliders like the StratoBlaster or Centurion)?

 

[Indiana Speed!]

See this attachment. It is very similar to this build, but the wings are gonna be more like a tradition airplane kind of like the Delta Glider found on the Orbiter Simulator.

https://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/2/21/290px-Orbiter-sim-Deltaglider-002.jpg

Basically, the Wings will be just like the Delta Glider, the rocket of course will be much longer, similar again to my previous build. I really don't think I should go into detail about my design... I was just wondering if anyone had any insight on what the preferred method for making wings for a model rocket was. I'm just right now using common sense that the FOAM Boards would be the best because FOAM is rather light compared to any other type of wood or board that I know of.

I've been launching rockets for about 8months. Did my first scratch build in May of 2006. All launches went off just great!

Also, I have had no experience with RC Gliders or any Rocket Glider before. I just want to make one because it sounds interesting.

 

[zog43editor]

So a big delta wing rocket plane?

Are the wings you are planning on the full length of the body like the image you linked? I think that foam core board can do nicely, however if the span is going to be large (sounds like it) you may need to think about some sort of reinforcements on them. This could be as simple as strapping tape spars all the way up to carbon fiber or balsa spars.

That image also looks a lot like one of the X Prize kits that Estes came out with, and even though it had a plastic shell, it may be worth your while to look at he mecahnics of that design.

I gues I can understand you not wanting to devulge details, but it makes it a lot harder to answer your questions without some basic info (like span, planned motors, etc).

kj

 

[by basher]

Edmonds does it with balsa. Very light, sturdy balsa. Build a CiCi for starters.

 

[Indiana Speed!]

The wings are almost identical to the Delta Glider that I linked. The body tube will be much longer than the wings in height. I believe my wing's width should be around 5inches for each, and about 1.5 feet long with a 44 Inch Long Body Tube + Nose Cone for the center part.

I want to make is much longer/higher than the Delta Glider due to stability issues with the CP, and the CG. I would like to have more space to add weight if I need too!

I will try to post pictures of the build once I start sometime soon. Just gotta get my supplies from some Hobbie Store in Cocoa, or maybe Space Coast Hobbies.

 

[powderburner]

You might get some ideas from looking through the old plans for model rockets posted on websites like
https://www.dars.org/jimz/rp00.htm
specifically, the following designs should give you some insight into what sort of combination of span/area/sweep/thickness is reasonable (these are all balsa wing structures, if I am not mistaken)
https://www.dars.org/jimz/k-03.htm
https://www.dars.org/jimz/k-13.htm
https://www.dars.org/jimz/k-24.htm
https://www.dars.org/jimz/k-42.htm
https://www.dars.org/jimz/km-6.htm
https://www.dars.org/jimz/mpc0930.htm
There are probably many others, but this is only to make the point that 1/8 and 3/16 balsa has been used for a looooong time to make glider wings and it holds together pretty well.

I am assuming that your rocket project is a low-power design using A, B, or C motors. Balsa would probably even work on a D-powered design, especially one like yours with a delta wing (and a very long wing root for lots of structural attachment to the body).

We might be more helpful if you could post a description or rough sketch....