silkyt

This is my first attempt at a plane this small. Any advice from you experienced 1/2 A guys is appreciated. I have been flying .40 to 1.50 sized planes for over a decade and thought I'd give this miniature part of the hobby a try! Hey, if I like it, I may go smaller. Here are the specs:
OS 10 LA
26" top wing span
307 sq. in. wing area
27 oz. AUW
So, based on other planes in this size/ weight range, what flight characteristics can I expect?
Thanks
BTW, it is a "Twig" stick biplane produced by Celerity Aerospace Designs in the mid 90's. I modified a bit to include cowl, 4 ailerons, tail wheel, and counterbalanced tail surfaces.

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

I think you are in for some fun.. Good wing loading. Proven design on a Big Un. With the stubbie wings, 4 ailerons and the balanced elevator you may not need too much throw on low rates the first time up.
What did you put inside that make it wiggle?

silkyt

Hitec HS-81's on all channels. Ni-Mh 700 mAh batt. 17g JR reciever. Yeah I was thinking about keeping the low rates REALLY low because of the 4x ailerons and counterbalanced tail. But the high rates are gonna be wild for sure. I'll be sure it's got some altitude for the first flip of the high rate switch. Will the 2oz tank yield a reasonable flight time with the OS 10. I can squeeze a 4oz in there if I find the run times a bit short I suppose.
Thanks much

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

should have about a 45 degree climb with that engine. they do make some 3 ounce tanks that most of fly in the .10-.15 size range, but with the 2 oz you could expect 6-8 minutes WOT or ten minutes of mixed flying

digital_trucker

Nah, won't fly, that's a recipe for disaster. Save yourself the bitter, crushing disappointment and send the whole works to me IMMEDIATELY.

somegeek

My Feedback: (2)

That 2oz should get you decent flight time with that .10. Have you tried a WOT test of it to see how long it'd take to drain the tank?

A few things I noted when I maidened my smaller bipe when compared to my larger .40 size planes is that it got knocked around more by gusts and that four ailerons on a bipe can roll it pretty quickly. Plane was also much more sensitive to small bumps in our runway during take-off and landing.

Good luck on the maiden!

somegeek

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

Great looking model! Sounds like you're all set to have some real fun. Have you checked the wing allignments in all directions real good and balanced the plane in all axis?
A plane like this needs to be dead on. I'll bet you find that 1/16" of aileron is enough for mild flying, 1/8" enough for a stiff drink after you land it.

silkyt

I spent a good amount of time making sure the wings are nice and square to the fuse and each other. Equal distances form each wingtip to the stab TE. Today is balance day and final inspection. I've got unlimited space to mount the battery anywhere between the tank compt. and back of the fuse. It's snowing here so no temptation to finish quick and go maiden today. Thanks for the input guys.

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

Just make sure all that snow is gone for next weekend... I'm going to be in that neck o' the woods for the Hops an' Props in the Boeing museum.

silkyt

OK, I'll do my ceremonial anti-rain, no-wind, perfect maiden flight weather dance. You'll know when the twig goes up cause the clouds will part around Tacoma.

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

Good idea... My ETA @ SEA-TAC = 16.00 Friday

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

The other check is to look for any twist built in to the wings, it is easy to overlook.
Skaliwag, give me a yell when you get here. I'll make sure to throw a 300x300 tarp over the flying field after the work crew squeegees the water off the grass.

silkyt

Funny you should mention the twist. The wings were very straight right off the building board. But after covering, one side of the bottom wing had a huge (aprox. +5 deg. at the tip) twist. A little work with the iron and an assistant (my loving understanding wonderful wife) and the twist was gone. Had I overlooked this, I speculate the results could very well have been disasterous.

silkyt

Oh yeah, pigg, could you send your sqeegee crew down to Tacoma when they're done with your field.

tangerine-jack

One word of caution: after your maiden small plane flight you will be dissapointed by the ho hum run of the mill birds you were used to flying. Prepare to sell all your .40 and up sized planes to the unimaginative mob that inhabits your favorite flying field. You are one of us now. You have been upgraded, you are now human 2.0

flyinrog

My Feedback: (1)

That looks a lot like an Ace ultiimate I'm not sure a .10la is gonna be enough to do more than just fly that plane....Rog

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

Silkyt, I would like to oblige you, but Skaliwags' publicist and booking agent has warned that the amenities had better be right this year or else future engagements won't be possible [8D].

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

Unless they double the exhibits and triple the size of the samples at the Fest....... and add an hour to the Happy Hour.

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

Steve, I had a reassure Boeing that this year you won't try to climb into the SR71[sm=bananahead.gif]

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

We're saving that "Honour" for you next time you and L D get together. I already been in space (spaced) more times than I can rememeber. I wanna go for a ride in the Tuabe they have in the foyer.

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

I'll bet Larry would know how to "hot wire" it [8D]?

Remby

My Feedback: (3)

Looks quick!

Flight pictures please with a report..

silkyt

OK, it looks good in the air, That's about all it did good in the air today. Almost ate the dirt a couple times after takeoff. Very hard to trim to level flight. With only 1/4" of elevator throw, pitch corrections were extremely exaggerated. The old favorite tell-all of a tail heavy airplane....squirly!!! Somehow I managed to land it without a scratch after a 5 min. "pucker factor" flight. The pictures of the maiden are of poor quality, and the video of the maiden contains some poor language. Sorry folks, I have no useful information or cool video about the maiden flight. I am going to move the CG forward about 3/4" from where it is now. The weather is supposed to be nice here all week so hopefully I get another chance to see what this plane can really do. I will try to get some good video and pictures then.

silkyt

Oh yeah, even though the plane flew like crap, I am still super excited about this 1/2 a thing. When this plane gets back in the air and flies like something other than a sock full of D-cell batteries, I will let you all know if I am ready to sell off all of my big gas guzzlers in favor of a few planes I can put in the trunk of my mazda. Later

flyinrog

My Feedback: (1)

Hahahaha...the .10 may loosen up a bit after a few tanks and make it a little more fun, I started in 1/2a cause all I had at the time was my miata...Rog