Abstract: An aircraft brake control system accommodates desired yaw for steering, while substantially eliminating undesired yaw. The system assesses brake command signals from the pilot, signals corresponding to aircraft parameters, and signals based on brake control parameters, and determines therefrom an amount of yaw desired by the pilot. The instantaneous yaw rate is monitored and compared to the desired yaw rate. An error signal corresponding to the difference between instantaneous and actual yaw rates is calculated and that error signal is employed to modify a braking differential between right and left brakes to eliminate or substantially reduce the undesired yaw.

Abstract: A yaw alleviation device for an aircraft containing rotatable wing roots attached to wings. The device includes a spring configured to operatively connect to a wing; and a buckling member to operatively connect to the wing. The spring is configured to extend from an original unstrained position upon the buckling member undergoing buckling from an original unbuckled position to cause rotation of one or both wings in rotationally opposite directions. The buckling member may be positioned parallel and at an offset distance to the spring.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a flying vehicle having a fuselage, a pair of wings, the ability to manually apply a force against a portion of the wings causing the leading edge of each wing to sweep outwardly, the ability to mechanically holding the wings in a predetermined swept position, and the ability to bias the wings towards an initial inwardly swept position. A launcher rod with a rubber band is used to launch the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved durable toy glider plane comprised of a pliable deformable material, including a Mylar polyester film with a mil thickness that allows the material, once permanently creased under a certain pressure, to have the ability to be deformed by a pressure less than that of the original pressure, such as internal deformation caused when the plane strikes an object, and deformation by external forces, such as when persons bend or crumple the plane, or when the plane is run over by a vehicle, and reform to its original shape when released. The glider plane comprises a swept-wing configuration with winglets and ailerons for flight control and a launch pin to permit accelerated launches and provide weight for the nose of the craft.

Abstract: The present invention provides an unconventional and proprietary radio control (RC) or infrared remote control (IR) toy model/airplane which can intentionally shift or change its center of gravity (COG) to different positions along the longitudinal centerline of the aircraft or fuselage. The incremental shifting or moving of the COG from front to rear or vice versa incrementally changes the “angle of attack” of the wing, thereby producing a variable range of viable flight attitudes and resultant terminal velocities (top speeds). Therefore, users can easily select an appropriate speed for the airplane to fly in limited indoor spaces or in larger outdoor areas. Additionally, the COG shifting of the present invention can be applied not only to RC and IR controlled toy models/aircrafts but may also be implemented into real aircrafts including manned and unmanned aircraft for civilian and/or military applications.

Abstract: An adjustable weight system and method for adjusting the center of gravity and front and rear axle weights of a model race car. The adjustable weight system includes a cylinder having screw threads that are configured to form complemental threads in a surface surrounding a bore of an object that the cylinder is placed within. The cylinder is configured to engage a tool for adjustably positioning the cylinder within the bore and forming the complemental threads. The methods for adjusting the center of gravity and front and rear axle weights each include selecting a desired center of gravity location, front axle weight, or rear axle weight, placing at least a front or rear wheel of the car on a scale, and moving an adjustable weight on the car's chassis until the desired and actual center of gravity, front axle weight, or rear axle weight are approximately equal.

Abstract: A toy airplane with a specialized launching configuration. The toy airplane has a body that extends between a nose and a tail. A roller assembly is disposed at the nose of the toy airplane. The roller assembly includes a free rotating finger roll that protrudes to the left and to the right of the nose. When a person launches the toy airplane, that person places his/her fingers behind the finger rolls on either side of the nose. As a person makes a throwing motion, the fingers roll off of the finger rolls just as the toy airplane is reaching its maximum velocity. The presence of the finger rolls, therefore, prevents a person from holding onto the toy airplane too long as it is being thrown.

Abstract: An automatic pilot system for a model airplane comprising one or more flexible control elements. When installed on a vertical stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic rudder which provides directional control for the airplane so that it takes off in a straight line at high speed and glides in a circular path of a predetermined radius at low speed. When installed on a horizontal stabilizer of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic elevator which provides a reduced angle of attack during take-off to minimize the aerodynamic drag, an increased angle of attack during gliding flight to make the flight slower and longer-lasting, and an even greater angle of attack during landing to make the landing even slower for safety. When installed on a wing of the airplane, a flexible control element acts as an automatic dihedral wing tip which provides increased lateral stability for the airplane.

Abstract: A glider toy for entertainment purposes. The glider toy includes a housing that includes an upper plate section and a lower plate section. The upper plate section has a substantially circular shape. The lower plate section is generally crescent-shaped. A bulbous member is attached to the top side of the upper plate section. A nose piece is fixedly coupled to the housing and positioned adjacent to the front portion of the lower plate section. A tail member is attached to the top side of the upper plate section and is positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the upper plate section. A pair of fin members is attached to and extends away from opposing sides of the tail member. A pair of support members is attached to and extends away from the bottom side of the lower plate section. All of the aforementioned parts comprise a resilient closed cell material.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a toy airplane, which can turn a round and fly back to the original position where it has been launched by hand. The toy airplane comprises a foldable fuselage, a wing, a tail, a central fixing plate, a tail fin, a balance weight block, and a plurality of adhesive sheets. A pair of wing slots and a pair of tail slots are respectively disposed at the middle section and rear section of the foldable fuselage. The wing slot forms a specific curve, and the tail slot is matched with the wing slot to tilt a proper angle. The wing and the tail can exactly penetrate through the wing slots and the tail slots, respectively. Notches are respectively disposed at the front edges and rear edges of the central lines of the wing and the tail. The central fixing plate having a balance weight groove and a first retaining groove is installed in the foldable fuselage and is fastened in the two notches of the wing via the first retaining groove.

Abstract: Improved toy glider having folding wings and incorporating improved release mechanisms which increase the initial height achievable by the glider by preventing early transition of the folding wings from a launch configuration to a glide configuration.The improved glider may advantageously include a long ribbon-like tail wrapped around the glider to prevent biased wings from transitioning from a launch to a glide configuration. When the glider changes attitude in a manner indicating a change from an upward to a downward flight path, a weight is released from a support and the released weight unwraps the tail. Once the tail is unwrapped, the wings transition from a launch configuration to a glide configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus which transforms itself from one form to another. The apparatus comprises a body having a first rotatable leg and a second rotatable leg mounted thereon. When placed in motion, the apparatus is in its first form. First and second links are rotatably mounted in the first and second rotatable legs, respectively. The first and second links are pivotably joined at a pivot point. The apparatus has a weight disposed at the pivot point. Forces acting on the apparatus at different stages of travel cause forces to shift. This causes rotation of the first rotatable leg and said second rotatable leg. When this occurs, the apparatus is transformed into the second form. Also, a center of gravity shifting apparatus shifts the center of gravity of the apparatus from the front of the apparatus to the rear of the apparatus.

Abstract: A toy glider having a single wing formed from a flat sheet of polystyrene foam, or other material of similar characteristics, and a specific finger gripped launch handle suitably attached to the forward portion of the wing along the longitudinal center-line thereof. The wing may have creases extending transversely from the vicinity of the forward point of the wing tips to or near the midpoint of the trailing edge thereof, the wing portions rearwardly of the creases being angled upwardly by a shallow angle providing majority span wing twist wash out and simultaneously functioning as adjustable elevons.

Abstract: A flight control apparatus (10, 210, 310 or 410) for use in a model airplane (50, 250, 350 or 450) is described. The apparatus includes a weight (20, 220, 320 or 420) and a resilient band (24, 224, 324 or 424). In the first three embodiments, the weight is mounted in a housing (12, 212 or 312) with the resilient band connected between the weight and the housing. In the fourth embodiment, the weight is mounted on the fuselage (452) of the airplane. The airplane is launched using a standard slingshot-like launching device (56). The resilient member (56A) is mounted around the extension (22, 222 or 422) of the weight in the first, second and fourth embodiments. In the third embodiment, the resilient member is mounted around a hook (354) on the head (350A) of the airplane. To launch, the user (100) holds the tail (60) of the airplane and pulls forward on the post (56B) of the launching device which pulls the weight of the apparatus to the forward most position.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a launcher and one or more gliders for use therewith. The dihedral of the glider is achieved with two parallel creases that run front to back down the center of the glider. At the leading edge of the wing surfaces, self adhesive strips of flat magnetic sheet stock can be applied to the top and bottom of each wing to provide both proper weight to initiate desirable trim to the glider and to provide a force to separate the nested planes after launching, i.e., magnetic repulsion. For a multiple launch, the gliders are stacked on top of one another and placed upside down and mounted on a launching stick. Through use of a vertical upward force the gliders are launched with sufficient force so that wind resistance will induce the glider wings to collapse upon themselves, facilitating a higher launch.

Abstract: A glider toy apparatus including a body member made of a resilient material, a wing member having a length greater than a width of the body member, and a weight member secured to the body member forward of the wing member. The wing member has a greater density than the body member. The body member is affixed centrally of the wing member. The wing member extends from the body member in a swept-back boomerang shape. The weight member is secured to the body forward of a center of gravity of the body member. A vertical stabilizer can be affixed to either the body member or to the wing member so as to extend upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A toy flying glider system in which a toy flying glider is provided with a flat body including a nose section, a central body section with oppositely extending wings, each having spaced apart fins extending top and bottom, a tail section and a hook secured by a folded central body stiffener and a hand held launcher providing better gripping by a user and protection of vulnerable parts of the user's hand during launching.

Abstract: A toy glider includes: a fuselage, a telescopic nose member telescopically secured in a front portion of the fuselage for adjusting a gravity center of the glider in order to adjust a flying path such as a curvature radius when arcuately launched, and a self-biasing elevator attached to a tail portion of the fuselage for an automatic upward swinging of the elevator for automatically converting a horizontal flying to an upwardly climbing, thereby enabling an adjustment of a flying path of the glider for enriching a player's interest.

Abstract: A toy with aerodynamic properties includes a body member with a front end, a rear end and an inner cylindrical surface which is in communication with the front and rear ends. The outer surface of the body member has a generally cylindrical surface which is coaxial with the inner cylindrical surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced wings. A pair of circumferential bands are disposed on the outer surface of the body member. The circumferential bands can be moved closer and further from the front end to adjust the balance of the toy and the aerodynamic flight properties.

Abstract: A toy aircraft capable of circling in changeable radius which includes a fuselage and two rudders disposed on the wings, wherein multiple weight-adjusting recesses are longitudinally arranged on a top portion of the fuselage and arranged on upper rear positions of the wings at predetermined intervals, whereby multiple weight-adjusting ball members can be placed in the recesses and the locations or weight of the ball members can be changed to freely adjust the weight and gravitational center of the toy aircraft, at least one of the rudders being slightly inclined, making the shot aircraft fly in a circling pattern with the circling radius changeable.

Abstract: A set of glider planes formed in the shape of actual fighter aircraft are provided. Each glider includes a flat front portion having the profile of a fighter aircraft and bearing a graphical depiction of the fighter aircraft. To improve the aerodynamics of the gliders, each glider includes a generally circular flat rear portion extending rearwardly from the front portion. The rear portion may include a graphic depiction of exhaust plumes. The glider is inexpensively constructed of a foam laminate material and is launchable by means of a common household elastic band. A launching base, configured in the shape of a miniature aircraft helmet, is provided. The launching base has a hollow cavity sized to mount securely over the left thumb of a child. An elastic band connects the launching base to the glider to provide a launching mechanism.

Abstract: A rocket glider stabilization system wherein a releasable, granular, counterweight, or ballast material is provided in the forward end of a model rocket aircraft to offset the weight of a tail mounted rocket motor assembly. The counterweight ballast material is releasably maintained in a counterweight bay formed at the opposite end of the model glider fuselage from the rocket motor. A rocket body tube connects the rocket motor with the counterweight bay and, when the ejection charge of the rocket motor is ignited, the ejection charge pressure ruptures or opens a retaining structure to release the ballast and maintain the desired center of gravity for glide flight of the rocket back to the ground. At least one adjustable or fixed trim tab is employed on at least one of the flight surfaces to induce the desired glide path return for the model aircraft.

Abstract: A toy glider is shown having a unitary wing formed of closed cell resin material disposed in a slot formed in a fuselage in which a weight is located to place the center of gravity of the glider at a point which, along with selected flexibility of the wing, produces a cyclical up and down flapping type of movement of the wings when placed in flight above a threshold velocity. The glider has no horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage has a force-receiving surface adapted to accommodate the distal portion of a person's finger.

Abstract: A toy airplane is launched; and an air flow deflecting surface is located in spaced relation to a V-shaped, swept-back wing of the airplane to deflect air flow generally upwardly toward the flight path of the airplane to aid in sustaining or balancing its flight. That surface is movable relative to the wing, and may be hand-held beneath the flying wing. In a modification, a separate stabilizer surface may be connected to the wing to dangle, forwardly thereof.

Abstract: A multiple configuration model aircraft kit which enables the purchaser to assemble a plurality of model aircraft configurations, uses a relatively small number of components. The components of the model aircraft kid comprise at least one wing or primary lifting surface, one stabilizer and one fuselage or two secondary plane surfaces, and connector means. One of the secondary plane surfaces may alternately function as a fuselage or as a flight surface. Releasable connecting means are used to join the components thereby providing a plurality of configurations. Twin secondary plane surfaces may be provided which may be used alternately as wing tip flight surface extensions, dual fuselages, or as other flight surfaces.

Abstract: A model airplane or toy glider resembling a natural creature or of other design at least partially constructed of semi-rigid scoreable and foldable material such as polystyrene foam sheet, may contain one or more scored foldlines, the fold angle of the scored foldlines being aligned by angle setting members in specified relationship. A fuselage may be constructed having forward peninsulalike parts formed by a slot extending rearward from the front of the fuselage, the peninsulalike fuselage parts interlocking with a slotted wing and held together by an appropriately shaped nose weight. A fuselage may include a hoodlike part or may be of a specified complex three dimensional structure. A wing may have a central rearwardly extending portion, the portion having a pair of diagonally hinged control surfaces radiating from the central rearwardmost point.

Abstract: A toy blimp with at least one engine, and preferably two, mounted on a top side of an inflatable helium balloon blimp like member, and an infrared control circuit and power supply mounted on a bottom side. The balloon can be aluminum coated mylar, or preferably of a material which retains helium. A remote control transmitter with push buttons transmits infrared control signals to the control circuitry on the balloon for horizontal and vertical directional control. The blimp operates from the self-contained power supply and is controlled by the self-contained control system which receives control signals from the transmitter. The blimp is intended for free flight and as an amusement.

Abstract: A bird shaped toy glider which is preferably comprised of Styrofoam and includes a body. The body has a laminated head structure. A metal weight is embedded in the head between the laminations of the head structure for balancing the glider. A collapsible wing structure is provided and it includes a pair of wings mounted on the body behind the head. The body having its center of gravity at a medial point between opposite ends of the body. A tail structure is mounted on the rear end of the body. A stationary pivot pin is fixedly secured with and extends through the body behind the wings. Resilient spring-like means in the form of a rubber band operates to secure the collapsible wing structure on the body permitting the collapsible wings to be pivoted about the stationary pivot pin in a 90.degree.

Abstract: A toy glider having a generally rigid spine member with integrally formed transversely extending connector portions configured for receiving the wings therein, with the wings being separable from the spine member on impact. The wings are provided with creases with apertures adjacent thereto for connecting thereto simulated armament which maintains each wing in a folded configuration, with a seat member being adjustably attachable to the spine member, the seat being adapted for receiving one of a plurality of toy figures of different weights within a range of weights, the position of the seat and the weight of the figure, in part, controlling the aerodynamics of the glider.

Abstract: A weight holder for removable and replaceable attachment to the nose portion of a toy aircraft. The weight holder is adapted to be integrally mounted to a protruding nose portion of a wing panel on a toy aircraft. The weight holder has opposed clamping jaw portions connected by a hinge element. The facing surfaces of at least one jaw has a weight-seating chamber for receiving a weighted object which is to be secured to the aircraft by the weight holder.

Abstract: A hand propelled air glider type aerodynamic toy. The toy includes an elongated fuselage, a nosepiece which acts as a balance weight, a flat plastic or styrofoam member with an offset cutout which acts as the wings of the device, and a wing adjuster which secures the wing to the fuselage. The wing adjuster slidably accepts the fuselage to provide adjustments of the wing for different flight characteristics. The plastic fuselage passes through the cutout of the wing member thereby causing a slight upturn of the rear portion of the wing. The combination of the wing cutout and the angle of the wing construction with respect to the fuselage gives the device its aerodynamic properties.