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Aerobie

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File:Aerobie Ring Pro.jpg
An Aerobie ring

An Aerobie is a flying ring used in a manner similar to a chakram or flying disc (Frisbee), for recreational catches between two or more individuals. Its ring shape of only about Template:Convert thickness<ref name=AerobieScience>"The Science of Aerobie Sport Toys", #1 Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> makes the Aerobie lighter and more stable in flight than a disc.<ref>Schuurmans, Mace "Flight of the Frisbee", New Scientist, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> It can be bent to tune it for straighter flight.<ref>"Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #2 Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> Since it has very low drag and good stability, it can be thrown much further than a flying disc. The Aerobie was used to set two former world records for thrown objects.

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 for stability.<ref>aerobie.com image Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref>

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. This led to the development of the predecessor of the Aerobie, which was called the "Skyro".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> About a million of this model were sold. In 1980, it was used to set a Guinness World Record throw of Template:Convert. It lacked the spoiler rim of the Aerobie. It had low drag, but was stable at only a certain speed. The later introduction of the spoiler, which balanced the lift, made the ring stable "over a wide range of speeds".<ref>Adler, Alan "The Evolution & Aerodynamics of the Aerobie Flying Ring" Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> After testing several models, the ideal shape was found, and the Aerobie was produced. Adler founded Superflight, Inc. (later known as Aerobie, Inc.) in 1984.

In 2017, the rights to the Aerobie flying ring and other Aerobie assets were sold to Swimways, a subsidiary of Spin Master, and the company was renamed to AeroPress, Inc. <ref name="about">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CharacteristicsEdit

The Aerobie allows for throws over unusually long distances. It flies faster and further than a common flying disc. When well tuned, it can fly in a straight line,<ref name=AerobieScience/> "like a puck on an invisible sheet of ice".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It does not have the tendency to roll when thrown level, as a flying disc does.<ref name=FAQ1>"Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #1 Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> Similarly to a disc, an Aerobie can be thrown in a curved path by throwing it in a slant.<ref name=FAQ1/> Its lift depends on its speed relative to the air. Therefore, throwing into the wind makes it fly higher and throwing with the wind makes it fly lower.<ref name=pages12-13/>

AdvantagesEdit

The Aerobie's ring shape allows it to be caught in a variety of different ways. For example, it can be caught by thrusting a forearm,<ref name=pages12-13>Template:Cite book</ref> the head (when the ring is thrown high),<ref>Translated Korean Aerobie site, accessed June 27, 2008</ref> or even a foot<ref name=pages12-13/> through the middle. Games such as "Aerosticks"<ref>"Aerosticks: The Art of Catching Aerobies with Sticks", copy at the Internet Archive</ref> and Aerogoal<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> are designed specifically for the Aerobie.

Disadvantages, special careEdit

An Aerobie ring does not float in water.<ref>"Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #3 Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> It can be easier to lose than a flying disc, especially over long distances and its low profile can make it hard to spot on the ground. It also gets caught on tree branches more easily.<ref name=pages12-13/>

The Aerobie is best thrown in a wide open area such as a football or soccer field, away from bodies of water, roofs, trees, roads, etc. Adequate light is also important.<ref name=FAQ1/>

World recordsEdit

The Template:Convert Aerobie Pro was used to set the Guinness World Record twice for the "longest throw of an object without any velocity-aiding feature".<ref name="FAQ"> "Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #8 Template:Webarchive, accessed June 26, 2008 </ref> The Aerobie's first Guinness World Record was set by Scott Zimmerman at Template:Convert in 1986 at Fort Funston, San Francisco.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> The 1986 record was broken by Erin Hemmings with a throw of Template:Convert on July 14, 2003 at Fort Funston. Hemmings' Aerobie was airborne for 30 seconds (not an official measurement) and was the first thrown object to break the quarter-mile barrier (402 meters or 1,320 feet).<ref> New World Record, accessed June 26, 2008</ref>

Previous to the 1986 record, the Aerobie held the world record at Template:Convert. It does not appear that this was recorded by Guinness.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> On June 7, 1988, the Aerobie became the first object to be thrown across Niagara Falls with a throw by Scott Zimmerman.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> In April 1987, Zimmerman threw a silver dollar taped to an Aerobie across the Potomac River.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref>

Since the introduction of the Aerobie, Superflight has offered reward money for various landmark throws.Template:Citation needed While details of the earlier rewards are unclear, the currentTemplate:When reward is $1,000 to anyone who sets the Guinness World Distance Record.<ref name="FAQ"/>

See alsoEdit

Further readingEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist 21. [1]

External linksEdit

|[{{#ifeq:|uspto|http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=%7Chttps://patents.google.com/patent/US}}{{#iferror:{{#expr:4560358 }}|4560358}} U.S. patent {{#ifeq:Template:Replace|Template:Digits|Template:Replace|4560358}}] |{{US patent|123456|link text}}}} by Alan Adler, filed May 10, 1984, issued December 24, 1985.

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