The Glider Design project is a semester-based project that serves to be an entry, level hands-on design competition. Members will work individually or in pairs to design, build, and fly a small glider with the intent of understanding the fundamentals of flight. The gliders will then be flown at the end of the semester, competing to see which glider has the longest flight duration. Members will receive instructions on how to do all that is required; no background knowledge is needed to participate. 

This project serves to create a solid knowledge base of flight, design software, fabrication, and familiarity with common engineering practices. They will learn about the forces of flight (lift, drag, weight, and thrust) and will learn how to manipulate them to optimize their design.