KITE GLIDER

This is the most glider-like of all of Leonardo’s designs, and the most practicable. So when people build flying reproductions of Leonardo’s flying machines, this is the one most of them build. But it isn’t clear from his drawing which end faces front. In terms of aerodynamic balance, the pointy end probably should go first, but most builders are hang glider pilots, and think the pointy end looks more natural at the back. I built and tested this glider both ways, and there wasn’t any really big difference. But I don’t want anybody getting poked in the eye, so here we are, pointy end at the back.

1 Start with the bottom of Wing (1) facing up. All of these drawings show the glider from below. Glue the large Wing Reinforcement (2) to the bottom of Wing (1), flush with the front edge.

2 Glue the small Reinforcement Parts (3) – (9) to the bottom of Wing Reinforcement Part (2), flush with the front edge.

3 Fold the Pole Parts (10) and (13), and glue them together with Pole Parts (11) and (12) sandwiched in between.

4 Glue the Foot-rest (14) to the bottom of the Pole.

5 Mountain fold the small tab on Pilot Part (15). Glue the tab to the inside of the Footrest, just touching the Pole, and glue the hand to the Pole as shown.

6 Glue the other Pilot Part (16) to the Pole and Pilot in the same way, but leave the legs separate.

7 Glue the Pole and Pilot to the bottom of the large reinforcement at the mark. Make sure it’s straight, because the pilot is the rudder!

8 Turn up the point at the back slightly for stability, and you’re done!