The Green Council of Hong Kong, a non-profit environmental association, is going to organize a creative environmental handlaunch model glider design contest on 30 January, 2005. The main objective of this contest is to simulate the creative mind of  the youngsters through the process of designing model gliders and to build up their environmental cautiousness.  HKRCSS is honour to be invited to co-organize the contest. The contest will be held in Wan Chai Sport Stadium. The organizer is expecting to attract over 200 teams of school kids participating in the contest. HKRCSS will be responsible for setting up the competition rules, giving training sessions to the potential contestants, and also as one of the judges during the contest. Two briefing sessions on the principles in the design of model gliders will be given on 20 November, 2004 and 4 December, 2004. The participants are mainly school kids from the local primary and secondary schools. The details in the call for participation is in this document and the contest rules is given in here.

The first briefing session was held in City University of Hong Kong on 20 November, 2004. Here are some photos taken during the briefing session:

Y.C is lecturing the principles of aerodynamics. The kids are interested in this r/c plane

Ah Kin shows off his beautifully built handlaunch glider. The glider was made with balsa wood and it achieves a very good gliding ratio.

In explaining the design and construction of model glider

He is certainly a good speaker in channeling the ideas behind model glider design

The audience are very interested in this model glider. Ah Kin, do you have copy right for your design?

Certainly would like to launch this model!

Stanley is explaining the concept of dihedral

and the characteristics of airfoils

It is important to locate the centre of gravity

The audience are listening carefully

and taking notes?

"I am confident I can build a winning model!"

The second briefing session was held again in City University of Hong Kong on 4 December 2004. This time the whole classroom was packed with kids and their school mentors. It is expected that the number of contesting teams will certainly exceed 200! Here is the presentation material by Y.C. Lui.
 

USS Enterprise - Y.C.'s own creation

Well, this is for demonstration only, although it is flyable!

In the day of competition, there were 163 teams from the primary and secondary schools to join the contest. All of them are enthusiastic about the contest. Some designs are very airborne able. The contestants are divided into groups of eight and they have to launch their gliders within a square of 2 meters by 2 meters. Each team has two rounds of flown, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The longer total duration from two throws will be counted for winning the contest.

The guests in this event all have a balsa glider in hand

Pilot briefing and the CD, Ah Fai, is answering questions from the contestants

This biplane glider looks good!

This is a streamline design

Is he old enough to join the contest?

Registration in progress

This is not a paper glider, it is made of wood with newspaper sheeting

Look good, they are potential winners

This glider looks interesting! Is the CG ok?

Ready in the pilot line

An interesting design with two wings!

Look like a bird, this one is certainly environmentally "clean"

A small design but it can achieve long duration flight

This one looks like a chicken

The event is kicked started by launching the balsa gliders by the quests

All contestants must launch their glider within this white square

See a movie for how the contestants perform

Look like it is difficult to get the glider airborne

These two masters are going to demonstrate their handlaunch skill

It is dangerous to fly among the crowd and only 20 meters from a busy main road in the heart of Hong Kong bussiness district!

This is certainly a chance to fly in million of years

Ah Kin has many fans

They were flown to dead, poor gliders

Quick fix on site, well done!

Our booth attracts so many visitors

Lets take a group photo to mark the success of this exhibition

Ken is busy in explain how to control a model glider

Stanley is representing HKRCSS to receive a souvenir from the organizer