Simple Electric Powered Glider

Have you always wanted to add extra flight time your homemade glider or a foam plane you just purchased for a couple dollars. Follow the steps below to add an electric motor, powered by the smallest Lipo battery you can find.

In my case I am using a small foam glider that I purchased at a dollar store, a small motor salvage off a toy and small Lipo battery I had laying around at home, to demo the concept.

You'll also need Hot glue to secure the motor with the propeller and double side foam tape to find the sweet spot for the battery before you super glue it to the glider.

Step 1: Component and Tools You'll Need

Here are the things you'll need

• Glider - in my case using one which I found at a dollar store.And the best part is that it came with a propeller.
• Small Motor that weighs a couple of grams that I salvaged from a old toy, you can also use a motor that you'll find in an old electric toothbrush.
• To power the motor use a small Lipo battery(i am using a 3.7v 100mAh)
• Breadboarding wire to solder to the motor so that it is easy to plug it into the Lipo battery.
• Heat shrink tubing or electric tape to prevent the wires from shorting.

In addition you'll also need

• Hot glue gun
• Soldering Iron and Solder
• Double sided foam tape
• USB Lipo charger to charge the battery.

Step 2: Soldering the Motor to Breadboard Wire

Cut the breadboarding wire in half. And add a little solder to the wires to tin them

Now add the heat shrink and solder the wires to the motor

Once done use a heat source like a candle/lighter to shrink the tubing.

Step 3: Hotglue and Testing the Propeller With the Motor

Now add a small piece of foam or double side tape and attach the propeller.

Using hot glue,secure the propeller to the motor as shown in the picture above.

Connect the motor to lipo battery and give the motor a quick test as shown in the video above.

Step 4: Hot Glue the Motor to the Gilder Body

Once you've tested the motor with the Lipo , add the motor to the glider plane using hot glue.

Add a little bit of hot glue on the nose of the glider and then press and hold the motor for a couple of second.

Then to completely secure the glider add a ring of hot glue around the motor as shown in the third picture above.

Step 5: Determining the Best Spot for the Battery

This is step could take a couple of flights/tries , so be patient !!

Here you'll have to move the Lipo battery around to prevent the glider from Nose heavy or Bottom heavy.

So before heading out to fly the glider to find the sweet spot for the lipo , carry a few pieces of double sided foam tape..

Step 6: Flying the Electric Powered Glider

Congratulation your done!! you've successfully added more flight time to your Glider.

Now to recharge the Lipo battery after a couple of hours, use a USB Lipo charger as shown in the picture above..