Aerobie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An Aerobie is a flying ring used in a manner similar to a flying disc, for recreational catches between two or more individuals. The Aerobie differs from a flying disc in that as a ring it is hollow in the middle, whereas a disc is solid. An aerobie is also lighter, and is more stable in flight. Since it has much less drag and weighs less than a flying disc, it can be thrown several times farther than a flying disc.
It was used to achieve the Guinness World Record for the "longest throw of an object without any velocity-aiding feature". The record was originally set in 1986 and then broken in 2003 in San Francisco by Erin Hemmings. The 2003 record toss traveled 1,333 feet (406.3 metres) and the Aerobie was airborne for over 30 seconds.
Designed in 1984 by Stanford engineering lecturer Alan Adler, the Aerobie has a polycarbonate core with soft rubber molded onto the inner and outer rims. The outer rim has a spoiler designed to impart stability.
While the method of throwing an Aerobie is similar to any other flying disc, there are differences:
- As the Aerobie spends more time aloft, any errors in aim or technique imparted at the time of release will tend to magnify. This is particularly true when a slight angle off level is introduced at the time of release. It's quite easy to miss one's target by dozens of yards. Flying discs, on the other hand, are somewhat self-correcting when the angle imparted is small.
- If one is only familiar with timing the trajectory of a disc, judging how far and fast to run to catch an Aerobie will prove challenging initially. The mind will think the Aerobie will take a certain flight path based on the familiar behavior of a disc, but the Aerobie will continue gliding, usually well over the head of the intended receiver.
- It is rare for a flying disc to be caught in a tree. The disc design generally prevents it from becoming hung up in the branches. An Aerobie, given its ring design, can become trapped in a tree.
- The ring design of the Aerobie makes it much easier to catch by using an upward thrust of the arm.
Other Aerobie models include a triangular boomerang, disc golf discs, and smaller discs marketed at kids and dogs.
[edit] See also
- Flying disc
- Aerosticks
- Chakram
[edit] External links and references
- Official website
- Paper authored by the inventor Alan Adler, explaining the design considerations.
- U.S. Patent 4,560,358 by Alan Adler, filed May 10, 1984, issued December 24, 1985.
