Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Walkalong Gliding November 30th, 2004 Florence, Italy
		Schedule of Events: 11AM-12PM Session on Materials Processing and Construction Techniques Presenter: Michele (Mike) Mucchi, Ferrara, Italy 12PM-1PM Session on Thermoforming and Advanced Flight Technique   Presenter: Phil Rossoni, X-Surfer Group, USA 1PM-3PM Break for Lunch, Restaurante Dino, Via Faentina 329, Olmo 3PM-5PM Visit to Mt Ceceri, Fiesole, Site of first trials of wings designed by Leonardo Da Vinci Sessions Materials Processing and Construction Techniques Michele (Mike) Mucchi, Presenter Hot wire slicing of Thick foam using a 12 volt power supply. Hotwire slicing allows thin material to be created from Blue Core.  Demonstration of “claw wing” design from Ming’s design from Windrider Ltd.  Depron room temperature shaping using ~2” radius cylinder forms. Demonstration of Depron X-Surfers of various wing spans, indoors and outdoors. Thermoforming and Advanced Flight Technique Phil Rossoni, Presenter Hot wire sliced foam provided by Michele Mucchi was thermoformed using a house hold iron set on “nylon” setting. How to create lengthwise bends using paper form. A straightened paper clip was taped to the nose and fastened with scotch tape. This provides a ballast whose for and aft position can be varied by sliding the paperclip wire under the scotch tape. An advanced flight technique was demonstrated which used a glider with the ballast trim such that the Center of Gravity (CG) was slightly aft of the Center of Lift (CL). Forward trim is provided by flying the glider in front of the paddle. This flight regime allows slower flight speed and more responsive turning. However, when the glider gets away from the paddle, the glider becomes unstable. Group Photo of Presenters