Winner's Circle

 

Project Design / Competition Procedure


Design and construct the sail (airfoil) for a hang glider based upon a modified Rogallo wing design. This is a basic sail design with an emphasis on safety and flight characteristics. The sail construction material must consist of a minimum (weight basis) of 80% natural wood cellulose fiber that is evenly distributed throughout the sail. Layered or extruded construction is not allowed. Sails containing more than 80% natural wood cellulose will be more favorably scored. Functional coatings are allowed on the surfaces of the sail. Sail battens are allowed, however, they must also conform to the 80% natural wood cellulose fiber requirement. Competing teams will receive a template for the sail from the Energy Challenge 2003 staff. This competition is being held in concert with the Centennial of Flight programs scheduled around the U. S. in 2003 to commemorate the Wright brother’s first flight in 1903. The Energy Challenge 2003 Competition will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2003 at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, in Nags Head, North Carolina. Those who are new to this sport are encouraged to consult the publications of Dennis Pagen to become familiar with the basics. Other references may be found at www.ushga.org.


Hang Glider Performance

The hang glider sail will be scored on the factors of weight (including battens), conformance to the required sail area of 191 square feet, sail tear strength, sail tensile strength, sail moisture resistance, sail recycle content and sail aesthetics and novelty as judged by a United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) certified instructor-pilot. The glider framing will be available through the Energy Challenge 2003 office.


Hang Glider Competition

As the final segment of the competition, teams will fly their hang gliders from a dune (approximately 80 feet high) at Nags Head, NC under the cooperative direction of Kitty Hawk Kites. All glider pilots will be USHGA certified and will comply with all USHGA safety protocol. Energy Challenge 2003 will pay airfare (or mileage) and per diem (room and board) for one pilot from each team to travel to Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, NC to enroll in the Kitty Hawk Kites one-day 'Hang One' rating course, see www.kittyhawk.com for information regarding Kitty Hawk Kites.

The competition will take the form of a distance, not soaring, event. Each team will be allowed three flights. The cumulative distance of the three flights will be the basis for determining the flying competition winner. Our advisors from Kitty Hawk Kites have indicated that a typical distance flown on a calm day from an 80 ft. dune is in the range of 50 to 75 yards.




First Place - North Carolina State University


Second Place - Spartan School of Aeronautics


Third Place - Temple University


Georgia Institute of Technology


University of Maine