Can I convert a hand launched glider (HLG) to rocket power?
Yes. The cheap balsa “snap together” toy gliders (i.e. North Pacific) are *NOT* strong enough for flight conversion; their wings are too thin and will shread. Plans for Jetex models are usually too flimsy for model rocket power [I’ve estimated that a Jetex motor is about an A 0.2-P in the NAR system]. However many HLG kits and plans are convertible. Also look at the Catapult gliders, essentially HLGs flown with a fixed size rubber band instead of arm strength. A wealth of HLG plans are available from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), National Free Flight Society (NFFS), Zaic yearbooks, and some of the other RC modeling magazines. I highly recommend the NFFS newsletter, journals, plans, and publications as sources of free flight glider information. Usually, all you need to do is to add a pop pod (or a fixed pod if you want to keep things simple) to the HLG, and perhaps invert the rudder. The references at the end of this part of the FAQ list several good HLG plans.
