indoorff

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Well, it dosnt look like I will be finished in time for the deadline for the 2006 design contest. I was busy at the wrong times with other projects and did not manage my time well. Here is what I have so far. It is still probably a week away from first flight.

For those who have not been following the 1/2a design contest site, this model is designed to go as fast as it can with fixed gear and a Cox Surestart (FGR stands for fixed gear racer). It is a pusher-canard configuration model. A rear inverted v-tail doubles as the main gear struts, and only a small vertical stabalizer is required on top. The canard is full-flying, all internally linked for low drag.

DICKEYBIRD

Very clever Chris! What's the wing area and weight? Definitely out-of-the-box thinking on that one!

Can't wait to hear about the 1st flight.

Oh yeah, make sure to put a hardened steel washer behind the prop driver.[X(]

ptulmer

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Chris, if it's an FGR, is there a plan to put wheels on the contact points or are they skids? Shoot man, I like the looks of that thing. Don't trip and fall with it though. You'll put an eye out!

indoorff

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thanks for the compliments

dickeybird - the weight so far is 4.5 oz, of course there is a lot of gear to add yet, and the wing + canard area (both are supporting) is ~ 109" sqr.

ptulmer - I had originally wanted to put wheels on all contact points, but the club field where I will most likely be flying has a grass strip, so either way I won't be able to take off, and it shouldnt make any difference on landing. I will probably put a nose wheel and leave the rear two as skids to create some drag back there to keep it tracking straight, like the X-15.

Sneasle

im really liking this thing.. if it flies well.. i might attempt to build one...


looks kinda scary...

combatpigg

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It is a spacey looking ship, Chris! I only have trouble with the central belly fin, I don't think it will protect the nose and the canard as well as if it was mounted further forward. Getting enough weight towards the front end is usually a job in itself, anyway.

indoorff

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Combatpigg - I could have placed it closer to the front but didn't for a good reason. Having a lot of vertical surface area near the front is a bad thing for handeling, and having it further forward would amplify the problem. In addition, because the fuselage is tapered, it would have to be even taller if it were at the front, and hence more of a problem still. I am willing to take the potential risk of damage against the certain risk of poor handeling.

Here are some more pictures of it with its final coat of paint. Seemed to go on pretty good.
A question - for models that are simply for doing circuits in the same direction, do you bother with 2 ailerons or only 1? If so, which side do you put the single aileron on?

Wazmo

Typically single-aileron pylon racers have it on the right wing for left turns. I think that's so that adverse yaw will tend to keep the nose up in turns.

indoorff

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Wazmo - that makes sense, thanks for the help.

ptulmer

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OK, time to get the radio and engine in there and get it in the air! Bring your camera and safety glasses![sm=lol.gif]

combatpigg

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IFF, Some of us played with a single aileron earlier and found that it takes twice the throw to get the same amount of roll control as having 2 ailerons. On a windy day, there were instances where the single aileron plane did not have enough roll control to maintain it's course, especially on dead stick final. I put it on the right panel for a left hand turning plane, but it doesn't really matter that much. On a plane with limited space for linkage inside the fuselage, it is a space saving alternative.

indoorff

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CP- thanks for the advice. I think I will give a single aileron a try - like you say, it is easier to fit the linkage in a tight fuse, plus it is simpler.

indoorff

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Engine mounted. Firewall is so small, I had to make a special aluminum adapter to bolt engine in place.

ptulmer

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IFF, on my killer buzz, the downward deflection wasn't all that effective. It would barely turn left, but would roll right pretty quickly. It had about 30 degrees of deflection!

I mention this because of the similar aspect ratios. If I do it again, the aileron will be more outboard and have plenty of throw on the first flight.

indoorff

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I uploaded the final pics to the contest site http://donatelli.net/_write/contest2...issue.asp?id=5

enjoy!

ptulmer

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Hey, I just noticed that this is also a contest between you and your brother. How you gonna ROG?!

BTW, I really like the "Recurve" on your site.

indoorff

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It was a contest between me and my brother. He dropped out (jack@#$) in favor of a .78 sized airacobra project.

Not going to ROG first flight. Will add a nose wheel and two tail skids for ROG later

Glad you like the Recurve, it was a fun project that turned out to be very successful