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Home : TRANSPORT : Flying |
| Humans have longed for an efficient flying machine for millennium. Flying is a graceful, but potentially dangerous method of transport. It is because of the risks that so many find it intriguing and irresistible. But why is it beyond the reach of the DIYer? Quite simply, it's not. In fact, it is very much a DIY technology, from the very first flights of the cloth hot air balloons, to the Wright brothers planes, and even Goddard's trash-can rockets. Flying has always been an industry of innovation, and who better to serve that up than the dreamers in their backyards. There are many routes to traveling through the air, and each has its advantages, depending on how fast you want to go, and where you want to fly. Flying can be very energy efficient, as shown through human-powered machines, balloons and airships, and gliders. Even engine-powered planes and copters can be efficient if they follow the basic rules of energy efficient flight. Those rules are: go slow, fly low, fly light, and keep the craft simple. These rules can really apply to most forms of transport, but in flying, the rules count for much more. Why is slower better? Well, for one thing, the faster you go, the more drag you create, the more stress on your craft, and the more likely something will fail. Do you really want to hit the ground going 500 mph? Flying slow is like riding a bicycle. Even if you crash, your injuries are more likely to be to your ego than to a vital organ! Gliding and ballooning are perfect examples of slow flight, although they may not be the perfect way to get around, they are relatively safe and can be very enjoyable. Flying low is like boating near the shore. Yeah, it isn't nearly as exciting, but if something goes wrong, the ground is not that far away. Falling from more than 50 ft however is pretty much the same as falling from 500 ft; it's going to hurt. Flying low is not always better, however, because if you have some elevation, chances are, you can correct the problem in time before hitting the ground. Flying low is best for flying slow. Flying light and keeping the craft simple are similar rules. Basically, the more you have, the more chances something will go wrong. That goes for weight and number of components. The heavier you are, the more horsepower you will need, the more lift you will have to generate, and the craft will have to be a whole lot sturdier to handle it all. The less you have protruding from your craft, the more aerodynamic it is, which basically means that it can glide through the air without creating a bunch of drag, slowing you down and robbing your craft of energy. To get started in flying, you need to first examine how you want to fly. Do you need speed, short takeoffs, fuel efficiency? Or maybe you are just looking for the occasional flight on the weekends with the kids. Your goals will dictate your methods, but don't let money become one of the limiting factors. Flying and money are not good companions, and flying tends to be an expensive hobby. Cheaper is definitely not always better. The number one rule for getting started in flying is get informed. Information is king with flight, and you can never have enough. For starters, look into paragliding, ballooning, small gliders, home built planes, and gyrocopters. Each of these provides a different approach, yet all of them are achievable by the backyard builder and can be reasonable in cost. There are tons of web resources on flying and how to do it from home. Look for clubs in your area to get to know the rules and some of the local experts in this hobby. |
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