{{Short description|Flying ring for throwing and catching}} {{About|the flying ring|the 1950s rocket|Aerobee}} {{Redirect|Flying ring|the gymnastics event|Flying rings}} thumb|An Aerobie ring
An '''Aerobie''' is a flying ring used in a manner similar to a flying disc (Frisbee), for recreational catches between two or more individuals. Its ring shape of only about {{convert|3|mm|abbr=on}} thickness<ref name=AerobieScience>[http://aerobie.com/about/science.htm#one "The Science of Aerobie Sport Toys", #1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011191739/http://aerobie.com/about/science.htm#one |date=October 11, 2011 }}, accessed June 26, 2008</ref> makes the Aerobie lighter and more stable in flight than a disc.<ref>Schuurmans, Mace [https://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg12717274.800 "Flight of the Frisbee"], ''New Scientist'', accessed June 26, 2008</ref> It can be bent to tune it for straighter flight.<ref>[http://aerobie.com/products/pro/faqs.htm#tuning "Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #2] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906043019/http://aerobie.com/products/pro/faqs.htm#tuning |date=September 6, 2011 }}, 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>[http://www.aerobie.com/ProductInfo/WebImages/Details/RingsDiagForWeb300.jpg aerobie.com image] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109143334/http://www.aerobie.com/ProductInfo/WebImages/Details/RingsDiagForWeb300.jpg |date=November 9, 2007 }}, 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>{{cite book |title= The Aerobie Book: An investigation into the Ultimate flying mini-machine |last= Cassidy |first= John |year= 1989 |publisher= Klutz Press |isbn= 0-932592-30-9 |pages= 28–31, 44}}</ref> About a million of this model were sold. In 1980, it was used to set a Guinness World Record throw of {{convert|261|m|sp=us}}. 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 [http://www.aerobie.com./Products/Details/RingScientificPaper.htm "The Evolution & Aerodynamics of the Aerobie Flying Ring"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523232015/http://www.aerobie.com./Products/Details/RingScientificPaper.htm |date=May 23, 2008 }}, 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">{{Cite web|date=2018-01-04|title=About AeroPress, Inc. And Alan Adler|url=https://aeropress.com/about/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=AeroPress|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Characteristics== 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>Cassidy (1989) p. v.</ref> It does not have the tendency to roll when thrown level, as a flying disc does.<ref name=FAQ1>[http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#throw "Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630101808/http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#throw |date=June 30, 2008 }}, 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/>
===Advantages=== 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>Cassidy (1989) pp. 12–13.</ref> the head (when the ring is thrown high),<ref>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&u=http://www.flyingdisc.co.kr/index.phtml%3Fmenu%3Daerobie%26content%3D/aerobie/aerobie_catch.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAerobie%2B%2522head%2Bcatch%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:* 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>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140426235144/http://laughingflea.com/aerosticks/index.htm "Aerosticks: The Art of Catching Aerobies with Sticks"], copy at the Internet Archive</ref> and Aerogoal<ref>Cassidy (1989) p. 21.</ref> are designed specifically for the Aerobie.
===Disadvantages, special care=== An Aerobie ring does not float in water.<ref>[http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#float "Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630101808/http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#float |date=June 30, 2008 }}, 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/>
When lost near the coast, the rings constitute a hazard for marine life, especially young seals, who may poke their heads through them, where they become stuck and cause wounds. Several councils in England and Wales have banned their use on beaches, and some British retailers have voluntarily stopped selling them.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lewis |last=Smith |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39rr09kyxlo |title=Council bans flying rings from beaches to save seals |publisher=BBC News |date=September 21, 2025 }}</ref>
==World records== The {{convert|13|in|adj=on}} 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"> [http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#newrecord "Aerobie Pro and Sprint ring FAQs", #8] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630101808/http://www.aerobie.com/Products/Details/ProSprintFAQs.htm#newrecord |date=June 30, 2008 }}, accessed June 26, 2008 </ref> The Aerobie's first Guinness World Record was set by Scott Zimmerman at {{convert|1,257|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in 1986 at Fort Funston, San Francisco.<ref> {{cite news | title = First Quarter Mile Throw in History at Fort Funston | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_July_16/ai_105504992/ | agency = Business Wire | date = 2003-07-16 | accessdate = May 28, 2009 | work=Business Wire }}</ref> The 1986 record was broken by Erin Hemmings with a throw of {{convert|1,333|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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> [https://archive.today/20130628093517/http://www.aerobie.com/QuarterMileThrow.html New World Record], accessed June 26, 2008</ref>
Previous to the 1986 record, the Aerobie held the world record at {{convert|1,046|ft|11|in|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. It does not appear that this was recorded by Guinness.<ref> {{cite news | title = Ringing in a world record. | url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ringing+in+a+world+record.-a03677561 | magazine = Science News | date = March 9, 1985 | accessdate = December 21, 2009 }}</ref> On June 7, 1988, the Aerobie became the first object to be thrown across Niagara Falls with a throw by Scott Zimmerman.<ref> {{cite news | title = California college student throws Aerobie flying ring across Niagara Falls. | url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-6738227.html | newspaper = PR Newswire | date = June 7, 1988 | accessdate = December 21, 2009 }}</ref> In April 1987, Zimmerman threw a silver dollar taped to an Aerobie across the Potomac River.<ref> {{cite news | title = Scott Zimmerman, Aerobie champion, dressed as George Washington, successfully throws a silver dollar across the rain-swelled Potomac River with the coin taped to an Aerobie. | url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-4770561.html | newspaper = PR Newswire | date = April 21, 1988 | accessdate = December 21, 2009 }}</ref>
Since the introduction of the Aerobie, Superflight has offered reward money for various landmark throws.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} While details of the earlier rewards are unclear, the current{{When|date = August 2015}} reward is $1,000 to anyone who sets the Guinness World Distance Record.<ref name="FAQ"/>
==See also== * Boomerang * Chakram * Lee-Richards annular monoplane
==Further reading== * {{cite book| last = Lorenz| first = Ralph| title = Spinning flight: dynamics of frisbees, boomerangs, samaras, and skipping stones| year = 2006| publisher = Springer Verlag| isbn = 978-0-387-30779-4 }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.aerobie.com/ Official website] *{{US patent|4560358}} by Alan Adler, filed May 10, 1984, issued December 24, 1985. *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eVCoKob-PA Youtube Video] Video of Aerobie products in action, including throwing one of the rings out of the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii, and the demonstration of the Aerobie Orbiter * [http://www.aerobie.hu/ Official Hungarian Aerobie Website] *[https://frisbeescheibe.com/en/aerobie-frisbee-disc/ Aerobie Frisbee Product Overview]
Category:Physical activity and dexterity toys Category:Exercise equipment Category:1980s toys