Monarch Butterfly Walkalong Glider

by walkalongaviationon Jan 7, 2008in offbeat & craft
intro
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introMonarch Butterfly Walkalong Glider
A Monarch Butterfly which has died is trimmed for flight and flown as a walkalong glider. The butterfly was found with its wings in the folded position. The butterfly is put in a humid chamber to losen up the muscles. Once unfolded, the butterfly wings are dried in a mold and fingernail polish is applied to the fuselage to add weight and strengthen the wings. The butterfly is then flown as a walkalong glider. It is recommended that first time builder/pilots learn how to fly a walkalong glider by following the instructable titled "Tumblewing Walkalong Glider Made from Phonebook Paper"

The result is a dried Monarch Butterfly which can be flown as a walkalong glider:

GEDC2605s10c.JPG Monarch Butterfly walkalong glider soaring flight pilotGEDC2585s10c.JPG Monarch Butterfly walkalong glider soaring flight pilotGEDC2606s10c.JPG Monarch Butterfly walkalong glider soaring flight pilot

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12 comments
Jan 9, 2008. 3:13 PMT3h_Muffinatorsays:
That's AWESOME!

Great job!
Jan 9, 2008. 9:37 AMwhiteoakartsays:
That's really impressive.
Jan 7, 2008. 10:43 PMaustinsays:
in the video did you run into the door frame? also cool project its pretty interesting
Jan 8, 2008. 2:34 PMwalkalongaviationsays:
I have made a new video where the wings have been remolded and the up elevator increased which makes the trimmed airspeed much slower. Slower airspeed (turned out there was ample room to slow down before the stall speed was reached) means increased maneuverability. In the new video (on the intro page) the pilot has much better control over the butterfly and there is no high speed crashes into door jams like the first video:
first video (airspeed trimmed to fast)
Jan 7, 2008. 7:24 PMtechnick29says:
Interesting, great use of science and creativity. Let's call it... scitivity! or screativity? Haha, something like that.
Jan 8, 2008. 5:51 AMKitemansays:
Just so long as you don't call it creation science...

Nice 'ible, BTW.
Jan 7, 2008. 11:27 PMCarpetGnomesays:
Reminds me of when I was young... My friends and I would catch junebugs and tie strings to their legs, living kites. (I don't do that anymore.... not since the "great invasion")
Jan 7, 2008. 10:33 PMErik Lindemannsays:
Very cool, and kinda morbid at the same time, now that I've realized you were using a real dead butterfly.
Jan 7, 2008. 5:44 PMTool Using Animalsays:
I LOL'ed. That's freak'n sweet.
Jan 7, 2008. 4:39 PMGorillazMikosays:
NICE JOB! That's amazing, it looks awesome too.
(added to favorites)
Jan 7, 2008. 4:33 PMCameronSSsays:
WOW.

THAT IS SO COOL!
Jan 7, 2008. 3:54 PMewilhelmsays:
Amazing!

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