COX .049 POWERED 1903 WRIGHT FLYER

TD ABUSER Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:36 pm

I tried to build a 1903 Wright Flyer powered with 1 Cox .049 Reedy.
The idea almost produced enough power to fly the model I built, but the model was a wee bit too heavy. The best flight was a gradual glide to the ground about 20 feet from where I released it.
I didn't use much science to figure what I wanted for a gear reduction, but I think the resulting 5900 rpm with a pair of "drone props" put out enough power for this idea to work with a lighter, more airworthy plane.

1/2A Nut Sun Nov 01, 2020 3:10 pm

Since the last flight attempt better props have come out 6x5 / 6x6 should fly it.
Do you need counter rotating?

TD ABUSER Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:52 pm

1/2A Nut wrote:Since the last flight attempt better props have come out 6x5 / 6x6 should fly it.
Do you need counter rotating?

I'm not sure if counter rotating would help. The drive belt set up was pretty challenged to provide just enough tension to keep things turning without becoming too much drag for the engine to turn.
Instead of foam board, there is much improvement to be made by building an all balsa framework and covering it with cellophane. Since the balsa frame would all be rigged with Spiderline and bamboo skewers, the choice of wood can be 1/4 x 1/4 balsa sticks for almost the whole model.
I'll bet the same sized model could be built with 25% less weight.

roddie Tue Sep 03, 2024 10:31 am

WOW! How did this thread slip through the cracks?? Shocked

That is truly an awesome display of model engineering Charles!!! Do you have any construction photos.. or any photos of the model for that matter?

TD ABUSER Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:48 pm

roddie wrote:WOW! How did this thread slip through the cracks?? That is truly an awesome display of model engineering Charles!!! Do you have any construction photos.. or any photos of the model for that matter?

Thanks !!
All that work and it only flew 10 feet...!
I might have submitted a build thread but don't recall.
I probably did some scribbles to get rough scale size relationships but never did a drawing.
Pond Skipper should get some credit for the engineering advice.
I originally made my own prop / axle bearing support boxes instead of empty Cox crankcases...but must have found that the Cox crankcases worked better.

akjgardner Tue Sep 03, 2024 5:36 pm

TD ABUSER wrote:
roddie wrote:WOW! How did this thread slip through the cracks?? That is truly an awesome display of model engineering Charles!!! Do you have any construction photos.. or any photos of the model for that matter?

Thanks !!
All that work and it only flew 10 feet...!
I might have submitted a build thread but don't recall.
I probably did some scribbles to get rough scale size relationships but never did a drawing.
Pond Skipper should get some credit for the engineering advice.
I originally made my own prop / axle bearing support boxes instead of empty Cox crankcases...but must have found that the Cox crankcases worked better.

10 feet is probably pretty scale to the real thing