The FPG-9 Foam Plate Glider is a simple, hand-launched glider made from a 9 inch () foam dinner plate, featuring a moveable

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...

and elevons, allowing for an inexpensive way to teach basic flight mechanics. The model was created by Jack Reynolds, a volunteer at the

Academy of Model Aeronautics The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), based in Muncie, Indiana, United States at , is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity. It is the largest organizatio ...

' (AMA) National Model Aviation Museum. Originally the model was used as a hands-on activity for museum visitors and museum outreach. In 2004, the AMA incorporated the model into Aerolab, an instructional program developed for middle school physical science and math programs, that uses simple flying model aircraft as tools to teach

Force In physics, a force is an influence that can cause an Physical object, object to change its velocity unless counterbalanced by other forces. In mechanics, force makes ideas like 'pushing' or 'pulling' mathematically precise. Because the Magnitu ...

and

Motion In physics, motion is when an object changes its position with respect to a reference point in a given time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and frame of reference to an o ...

. Today, besides the AMA, numerous other groups are now using the FPG-9. It may be built and flown to satisfy an elective activity for the

Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

Aviation Merit Badge. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis uses it as part of their CSI: Flight Adventures Project, an educational program highlighting the use of model aircraft as scientific tools for research for grades 3 - 5. The National Museum of the United States Air Force also uses the model as part of their educational programming to include Project Soar (Science in Ohio through Aerospace Resources).

References

External links

Instructions for building an FPG-9, written By Jack Reynolds, Volunteer, National Model Aviation Museum

Boy Scouts Aviation Merit Badge Requirements

FPG-9 Cut-out Pattern, by Jack Reynolds

PDF Build Guide, published by the Academy of Model Aeronautics
* http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amamuseum/files/2012/05/MA-May-2003-FPG9.pdf * http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amamuseum/2012/05/17/birth-of-the-fpg-9/ * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNtew_VzzWg * http://www.childrensmuseum.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Educators/3-5_FlightAdventures_UOS.pdf * https://web.archive.org/web/20141127022857/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-121107-012.pdf Paper folding Educational toys {{Toy-stub