Flight Dynamics of the Boomerang, Part Two: Effects of Initial Condition and Geometrical Configuration

In Part 1, equations of motion for boomerang flight dynamics were presented in strictly nonlinear form and solved numerically for a typical returning boomerang. The solution shows that the motion consists of both long- and short-period oscillations. These oscillations were found to be the result of the aerodynamically asymmetric moment and the gyro effect of the spinning motion with high advance ratio. When either the initial conditions at takeoff or the geometrical characteristics of the boomerang were varied, various flight paths and flight performances were obtained, some of which are compared with experimental results. The detailed mechanisms of the returning path, tennis racket effect on the flight stability, and ways of throwing a boomerang to avoid dangerous flight path are presented.