Aerobie

An Aerobie is a flying ring used in a manner similar to a flying disc (Frisbee), for recreational catches between two or more individuals. The Aerobie is a ring, rather than a disc. An Aerobie is also lighter, and is more stable in flight. It features tuning for straighter flight by bending the ring. Since it has very low drag and good stability, it can be thrown much farther than a flying disc can. The ring is only about 1/8 of an inch (3 mm) thick.
Designed in 1984 by Stanford engineering lecturer Alan Adler, the Aerobie has a polycarbonate core with soft rubber bumpers molded onto the inner and outer rims. The outer rim has a spoiler designed to impart stability.
==History==
In the 1970s, Alan Adler began attempting to improve the flying disc, considering its design characteristics. He tried streamlining the shape to reduce drag, but this resulted in a disc that was more unstable in flight. Eventually, he turned his attention to the ring shape. This led to the development of the predecessor of the Aerobie, which was called the "Skyro." About a million of this model were sold. In 1980, it was used to set a Guiness World Record throw of 261 meters. It lacked the spoiler rim of the Aerobie. It had low drag, but was only stable at a certain speed. The later introduction of the spoiler, which balanced the lift, made the ring stable "over a wide range of speeds." After testing several models, the ideal shape was found, and the Aerobie was produced. Adler founded Superflight, Inc. in 1984 (now known as Aerobie, Inc.) Since then, Adler and the company have produced 12 other sport toy products.
==Characteristics==
The Aerobie allows for throws over unusually long distances. It flies faster and farther than a common flying disc does. When well tuned, it can fly basically in a straight line, "like a puck on an invisible sheet of ice." It does not have the tendency to roll when thrown level, as a flying disc does. But similarly to a disc, an Aerobie can be thrown in a curved path by throwing it in a slant. Its lift depends on its speed relative to the air. Therefore, throwing into the wind makes it fly higher. Throwing with the wind makes it fly lower.
==Video Clip==
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