[Ground Slammer]

I was searching for a model kit of a old fashion hang glider. The one's with radial wing construction.Like Lilienthal and Pilcher flew. Does anyone know of such a kit?

[JoeF]

Toward the goal:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.02545/

================================
and
Build Log
First Glider Ever- Otto Lilienthal's Normalsegelapparat

========================
Explore:
https://www.lilienthal-museum.de/olma/e213.htm
=============================


==============================

[Bob Kuczewski]

Very nice videos Joe!       

It was good to see it flying at Dockweiler ... and with Andy as well.       

[Ground Slammer]

Okay that is the right kind of glider, I call this style a radial wing glider. Might be some other term it's called I don't know. Now here's what I left out last time A SCALE MODEL! You know like Testors or Guillow's

[Bob Kuczewski]

... I call this style a radial wing glider. Might be some other term it's called I don't know. Now here's what I left out last time A SCALE MODEL! You know like Testors or Guillow's

I like the name "radial wing glider".   

I don't know of a model version, but it might be a good hobby to build one from scratch, just like Otto did. And you don't have to worry too much about your craftsmanship ... since you won't be flying in it.

[Ground Slammer]

I was hoping to learn the intricacies of how they are made but the only model is zip for detail. Now you all might know the name of the French photographer who also was into hang gliding. He made a motion picture of him out flying. Now I knew that the radial wing glider was to fold for minimal space when stored. I also once saw a photo of a radial wing in the back seat of a old convertible. I think it was one of Pilcher's .....so transportable.
But this guy had the wing folded the folded glider had the right side down, the left side up the left side was under his armpit (rt arm) his arm extended down and grasped the center cut out. He carried it with no effort....no effort to balance...no effort with weight. It reminds me of the 1970s when standard Ragollos would balance perfectly on your shoulders not only when assembled but if you folded the wings left the control bar on had the cross spar swung out and all the rigging done .... the glider was perfectly balanced... and only 30 ish pounds.
The old radial wing glider was obviously very well thought out. I loved how the king posts self erected as he put the bow sprit cable on. He carried the unassembled glider like it was a bass fiddle in a carrying case Up the trail from the parking spot to the setup site no effort. That balance and compactness was not by chance