Crescent Moon Boomerangs

There are a few methods to try and your best bet is to try one at a time before combining several techniques at once…which is sometimes what is required.

(1)DIHEDRAL LIFT- this is achieved by taking your wing tips and bending them either upward or downward by heating them gently over a flame and then manually bending on a table with the flat side down or by heating the entire boomerang in the oven on “warm” for a minute (I recommend this as these rangs are covered with a urethane film) Be sure to bend only slightly as over bending may result in breaking the arm or adding too much dihedral lift. By bending upward you will create a flight that allows the rang to hover longer but at the expense of a shorter elliptical flight pattern. By bending downward you’ll create a longer range of throw and it will fly lower to the ground with a more circular flight pattern. If using the upward bend, be sure to throw higher and more vertically. If using the downward bend, be sure to throw lower to the horizon and with more layover and more into the wind.

2) SKEWING/TWISTING- By twisting the arms of your rang either counter-clockwise or counter-clockwise you will alter the angle of attack that the boomerang takes while airborne.
For example, by twisting the arms counter-clockwise (positive angle of attack) the rang will tend to have a lower flight pattern and will require you to throw the rang with more layover.

If however, you wish to achieve a higher flight pattern, you must skew or twist the arm clockwise giving them a negative angle of attack. When throwing your rang using this technique you will have to throw more vertically.

If you find your rang wants to go out straight and not make a full circle in its return, try twisting the Dingle arm clockwise and the Leader arm counter-clockwise, while giving it dihedral lift upward.

(3)USING WEIGHTS- Try adding coins to the tips or elbow of your rang in order to produce less hover or more distance. On windy days, to help increase drag because of problems with “flyover”, try adding a coin to the flat side of the elbow. Usually only 1 penny or nickel will due (the lighter the rang the smaller the coin used). If you want to have a longer distance throw try adding 1 coin on each tip as well as the elbow. You’ll end up with a similar flight pattern but one that is substantially greater in range. Be sure to throw higher and with more layover and more into the wind or it may tend to sink early. By placing a coin on the leader arm wing tip only, you’ll achieve a lower more elliptical flight pattern. Be sure to throw lower with more layover and more into the wind.

(4)DRAG– by using duct tape to make flaps that are 1/8 inch high on the rounded side of the rang, you’ll find it will increase much needed drag on windy days by reducing the flyover effect and will produce a slower spin that is closer to the ground. In my opinion I find it of all the above mentioned methods the most effective in reducing hover and flyover. Take a small piece of duct tape or electrical tape (at least 2 inches long) and make a small flap by sticking the piece together in middle. Then put it about 2/3rds of the way up the Dingle arm from the wing tip (the closer to the wing tip the more drag you will create as well as larger flaps over 1/8 inch). You can also try drilling small holes near the wing tips if you find you are only throwing in windy conditions, but make sure to cover with tape when there is little to no wind or your boomerang will not generate a normal flight pattern. Ultimately you’ll need to experiment to see what works best for you. There really is no right or wrong method because they all help. Usually you’ll find no more than one at time is necessary in order to achieve a successful flight.