Answers.Body: <p>As it turns out, the answer is yes! Even though the wings are flat and can't generate much lift, I was able to get up to about 15ft of distance on a 10ft drop.</p>
  <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiT6xcxSOUU" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bDS3Ol.jpg" alt="" /></a><br><sup>click to watch the video</sup></p>
  <p>Here's how I did it:</p>
  <p>First, you're going to need 2 of the set, or at-least two copies of the sails and some common Technic pieces. This is because the sails in the set are two different sizes (and I wasn't able to get a two-wing design to balance anyway).</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UWpql.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UWpqll.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><sup>the plastic sail sheet</sup></p>
  <p>Then you just build a really minimal and light-weight frame, with adjustable wing angles. Here's how I built mine, using only the parts from two copies of the set (click the images to view them larger):</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yB6hi.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yB6hil.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><sup>glider top</sup></p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hyfcv.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hyfcvl.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><sup>glider bottom</sup></p>
  <p>You'll notice how this frame isn't very sturdy. Since the wings can't really generate lift anyway, there's no advantage to being able to throw it like a wooden or foam glider, and a stronger frame would just be dead weight.</p>
  <p>The most-important thing about this design is being able to adjust the angle of the wings. Here's roughly the pitch that gave me the best results.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Trs5n.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Trs5nl.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><sup>adjustable wing pitch</sup></p>
  <p>I gotta say, I didn't have high hopes for this project going into it, but ultimately I was pleasantly surprised with the results!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-27T20:55:27.713Z
Answers.Text: Have you considered adding some sort of connector in the middle of wing side to change profile of the wing? To give them a bit of curve. It is just axle is already there, so having few more grams for connectors to change a profile may impact the performance positively.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alex
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-27T20:57:40.643Z
Answers.Text: @Alex I tried but the effect on the shape was minimal, they still sagged.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alexander O'Mara
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-28T07:54:57.130Z
Answers.Text: I love surprises coming from HNQ! Congrats for the creativity. Could it be coupled to something like this https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/393053146/powerup-40-smartphone-controlled-paper-airplane ? It wouldn't be 100% LEGO, it could be fun though, if it indeed works.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Eric Duminil
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-29T08:20:45.313Z
Answers.Text: You can definitely get lift from angle of attack alone (some paper plane designs use this), so controlling the wing angle could be very helpful.  At the moment it looks like the wing spar (repurposed mast) is free to rotate.  Then make sure the centre of gravity is fairly well forward for stability and I reckon you could get a lot further.  I'm tempted to try something myself with vintage Technic and making comparable sails.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chris H
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-29T14:30:37.667Z
Answers.Text: Interesting. Set 42074 also has sails, but of a slightly different shape (wider). Wonder if those would work. Unfortunately I only have that set once or I would give it a try.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tonny
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-27T18:50:35.100Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-09-27T18:50:35.100Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alexander O'Mara
Body: <p>In the past I've tried to make working LEGO gliders but since all the LEGO sails were either too small or the wrong shape the only thing that ever kinda worked was using paper over Technic beams (in which case it's really the paper that's gliding, not the LEGO pieces).</p>
  <p>Recently, LEGO has come out with some rather large plastic sails in their <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/catamaran-42105" rel="noreferrer">42105 Technic Catamaran</a> set, and I'm interested in trying to revive my old MOC idea.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1DGqo.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1DGqo.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>Using the sails in the LEGO Technic Catamaran set, is it possible to make a 100% LEGO glider that really works?</p>
  
Tags: <piece-information><technic><moc><activity-support>
Title: Is it possible to build a working 100% LEGO glider with the Technic Catamaran sails?
UserDisplayName: Alexander O'Mara
ThreadText: # Is it possible to build a working 100% LEGO glider with the Technic Catamaran sails?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-27)
  
  In the past I've tried to make working LEGO gliders but since all the LEGO sails were either too small or the wrong shape the only thing that ever kinda worked was using paper over Technic beams (in which case it's really the paper that's gliding, not the LEGO pieces).
  
  Recently, LEGO has come out with some rather large plastic sails in their [42105 Technic Catamaran](https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/catamaran-42105) set, and I'm interested in trying to revive my old MOC idea.
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1DGqo.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/1DGqo.jpg)
  
  Using the sails in the LEGO Technic Catamaran set, is it possible to make a 100% LEGO glider that really works?
  
  **Tags:** piece-information, technic, moc, activity-support
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2020-09-27. Score: 27
  
  As it turns out, the answer is yes! Even though the wings are flat and can't generate much lift, I was able to get up to about 15ft of distance on a 10ft drop.
  
  [![](https://i.sstatic.net/bDS3Ol.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiT6xcxSOUU)  
  click to watch the video
  
  Here's how I did it:
  
  First, you're going to need 2 of the set, or at-least two copies of the sails and some common Technic pieces. This is because the sails in the set are two different sizes (and I wasn't able to get a two-wing design to balance anyway).
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/UWpqll.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/UWpql.jpg)  
  the plastic sail sheet
  
  Then you just build a really minimal and light-weight frame, with adjustable wing angles. Here's how I built mine, using only the parts from two copies of the set (click the images to view them larger):
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/yB6hil.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/yB6hi.jpg)  
  glider top
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hyfcvl.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/hyfcv.jpg)  
  glider bottom
  
  You'll notice how this frame isn't very sturdy. Since the wings can't really generate lift anyway, there's no advantage to being able to throw it like a wooden or foam glider, and a stronger frame would just be dead weight.
  
  The most-important thing about this design is being able to adjust the angle of the wings. Here's roughly the pitch that gave me the best results.
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Trs5nl.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Trs5n.jpg)  
  adjustable wing pitch
  
  I gotta say, I didn't have high hopes for this project going into it, but ultimately I was pleasantly surprised with the results!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Have you considered adding some sort of connector in the middle of wing side to change profile of the wing? To give them a bit of curve. It is just axle is already there, so having few more grams for connectors to change a profile may impact the performance positively.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 I tried but the effect on the shape was minimal, they still sagged.  
  > **username_2**: I love surprises coming from HNQ! Congrats for the creativity. Could it be coupled to something like this https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/393053146/powerup-40-smartphone-controlled-paper-airplane ? It wouldn't be 100% LEGO, it could be fun though, if it indeed works.  
  > **username_3**: You can definitely get lift from angle of attack alone (some paper plane designs use this), so controlling the wing angle could be very helpful.  At the moment it looks like the wing spar (repurposed mast) is free to rotate.  Then make sure the centre of gravity is fairly well forward for stability and I reckon you could get a lot further.  I'm tempted to try something myself with vintage Technic and making comparable sails.  
  > **username_4**: Interesting. Set 42074 also has sails, but of a slightly different shape (wider). Wonder if those would work. Unfortunately I only have that set once or I would give it a try.  
  
  ---
  
  