Free flight project

Surfer_kris wrote:

Dizzyman2011 wrote:So this is my free flight build so far reckon about 4.5 hrs so far wing almost there just webbing and or sheeting upto or including the spars still not quite sure which way to go

I would have used a little sturdier leading edge, but it looks fine, just put some Webbing between the spars near the center too.

Hey kris when u say webbing I'm assuming you mean cross bracing sorry haven't heard that term before today should I go both ways ie x or just one way ie /
Cheers

Just fill the space between ribs and spars tightly, then it will resist motion in both directions (up and down). This effectively turns it into an "I" shaped beam.

RknRusty wrote:

John Goddard wrote:An 049 will never get that thing airborne...

Wait... weren't we talking about de-tuning an .049 because it was too much for this bird, or was than another plane

Hey rusty no same plane just a bit of humour I think the lack of wingspan in that photo sparked a giggle

Surfer_kris wrote:Just fill the space between ribs and spars tightly, then it will resist motion in both directions (up and down). This effectively turns it into an "I" shaped beam.

Oh I see that's good didn't think of that thanks will do that tommorow morning am slowly getting there hope it flys nicely after all this having said that am loving learning different techniques all helps furthering the knowledge and as they say knowledge is power !!!

Webbing done now do I sheet the rest of the wing up to the spar ??? Seems much more solid now thanks kris and John " alt="" />

Ok have decided against sheeting the rest of the wing I think ?
Next question do I have an adjustable rudder or keep things nice and true and introduce a bank by adding weight to the wingtip ?? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
Cheers

Put a coupla servo's in it....

Eh? What?
Who said that?

to gain performance you add lightness... not weight

im with john... if it needs weight... make it useful, so you turn away from the trees

a.

A servo on the rudder would be enough to guide it home/down if needed. Makes it easier to find a good launching spot too, and less distance to walk after it, it's only advantages really...

one channel!
Phil

For free flight, a common technique is to add a trim tab to the rudder --- this lets you make small adjustments in the field. The tab may be part of the rudder or may extend behind the trailing edge of the rudder. Usually, the tabs are attached with light weight aluminum or may simply be an aluminum tab alone.

You will need to trim for four flight characteristics: climb under power, turn under power, glide W/O power and turn W/O power. If you trim for a flat non-stalling glide, it may climb too steeply or even start looping under power. Use downthrust to control powered climb and elevator (shims or trim tabs work here, too) for gliding.

You're going to want to climb in a spiral and glide in a spiral, otherwise fly aways can be a problem, unless you've got a very large area to use. Usually, you will climb in one direction and glide in the other. If you climb and glide in the same direction, you can end up in a death spiral, since control surfaces become more effective as the speed increases. Control power turns with side thrust and glide turns with your rudder trim tab.

I've lost planes that I never found; I've lost planes that I found after the crops were harvested --- both were write-offs.
Many times planes that have timers for fuel shutoff will also have rudder input at the time of shutoff. They can also control the de-thermalizer with the timer. I didn't have any timers, so I would either have a short flight time or use a fuse/snuff tube arrangement.

The plane shown below uses an eyedropper tank, rudder trim tab and a pop-up stab with dethermalizer fuse and snuff tube. With the ultra lightweight radio gear available today, it would be a good candidate for rudder only or even R/E, but then it wouldn't be free flight any longer.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys but am gonna keep it free flight I'm afraid I agree it would be easier to trim and to find a location to fly and much less chance of losing it but really want to keep it free flight have some mini servos but am gonna keep them where they are for the mo
Andy loads of trimming info there thanks more complex than I thought ... Good job I like a challenge eh well I think I have lots of trial and error ahead of me
Andy am assuming then that it's best to trim for slow gradual stalls then to shed some speed and put opposite side thrust to rudder trim tab input

Would also like to add the timer only has one function ie fuel shutoff so everything else will be suck it and see I think but now I have an idea of what I'm aiming for that will help shed loads thanks
don't plan on climbing way up that's the reason I'm gonna tame the 049 as discussed on the other thread and plan on it being a gentle climb not a vertical drag race hence the need for low steady rpm prob swinging a 7x4

Dizzyman2011 wrote:

RknRusty wrote:

John Goddard wrote:An 049 will never get that thing airborne...

Wait... weren't we talking about de-tuning an .049 because it was too much for this bird, or was than another plane

Hey rusty no same plane just a bit of humour I think the lack of wingspan in that photo sparked a giggle

Oh... humor.... har har.

So bit chilly in the shed today took an hour and a half to travel a normal 20 minute journey due to sub arctic conditions
Seriously though 4" of snow and people panic quite funny really " alt="" />

Back on subject !!!

Tail plane squared nice and true glued in with some 1/8 runners to strengthen it up a bit " alt="" />

Now for the engine mount Block
Planed to rough shape and sanded smooth still some sanding to do here just got it about right by no Means perfect but starting to give some shape to it now " alt="" />

Another view of engine mount block
I plan to mount a ply plate to the block on front then another plate to mount motor on in front this will allow me to put shims in to alter side / down thrust as andy said on previous post " alt="" />

Sorry guys downloaded wrong pic
" alt="" />

Just enough time to do little by
More gluing on my new flight box !!! " alt="" />

Looking less like a plank of balsa more like an aircraft now " alt="" />

Or should that read "a flying plank of balsa"

Might be time to start thinking about the tank ?
" alt="" />

Not much done today only sanding the wing to a nice section and cutting fuse to house the timer !! " alt="" />