Jason Arnold

Another new offering from CK Aero is the Caressa. The Caressa is an entry to mid level AMA style airplane.

Some words from Bryan:
This airplane will use the same wing and stabs as its big sister the Alchemy uses. This will give the flight package some of the same ability as our top model, and when the customer wants to step up to the Alchemy, the overall feel is the same but the performance is a notch above.

The wing will be the same but top hinged. This helps with production speed, and gives us the ability to lower cost.

New taller, same style UC gear as the Alchemy, but I concentrated on making the gear bullet proof and worked with the factory to make sure it is the most robust gear for an entry level plane. This is an important selling point of this plane besides it's flying capability.

The canopy access is now moved so that Glow Power and electric powered models can be produced with the same molds. Moving the canopy forward allows easy access to what ever the setup the modeller chooses.

For an even lower cost, and for build minded modellers, there will be a Craftsman kit available. All components are installed by the modeller e.g. wings, stabs, canopy and cowling latches. Everything needed for the build will be included in the Craftsman kit.

More information will be posted as it comes to hand.

Cheers,
Jason.

papaone

Hello

Nice plane
Claude

ben beyer

My Feedback: (23)

On the craftsman kit, the wings and stabs are molded and the "builder" just needs to drill the holes for the anti-rotation pins or what all will be involved?

flyncajun

Ben
The Craftsman kit comes as a set of all composite components.
The holes for the wing tube and pins are marked on the Fuse and you install the parts.
My plan is to have a build guide set up on the website to help those who have not assembled a Pattern plane like this before.
I hope to have a couple at the Cajun Nats.

They are sold but you can see the plane up close.

Bryan

ben beyer

My Feedback: (23)

I won't be able to make it to the Cajun Nats but I am looking for my second 2m plane so I am interested in possibly getting one next spring.

Looking forward to the build guide!

crabill66

When will these be available? The website says, "The Caressa comes completely assembled by the factory with all hardware, control horns, and trays for the radio and battery set up." I am looking for my first 2M plane to move up to intermediate and while I am confident in my ability to fly the plane, I am not as confident in my building abilities. I can't afford to make a mistake building a $1,800.00 plane. What needs to be done to install the electronics and complete the plane?

flyncajun

The Caressa comes in a few different options
One option is a "craftsman" kit. You assemble the composite parts (Price not yet determined.)
The Next option is a complete kit where you just install the hardware this kit sells for 1800.00
I will have some at the end of the year, the few I have coming now are sold.
We will have more details soon.

I also hope to have build threads on the web site to help you guys.

Bryan

Smooth Pilot

I attended the Cajun Nats contest in District 6 this weekend and was able to pickup one of two available Caressas. The plane is magnificent! I am so pumped to get started on it. After getting it home and somewhat unpacked to show the accountant (wife) what the big bucks was for, I just had to step back and admire the beauty and craftsmanship of this fine pattern plane. The lines of the fuselage are not typical for a current pattern plane. The plane is based on the Hebert designed Shinden which has a very classic shape that resembles a full size aircraft. However, this version was modified to make it more friendly to install electric power.

I will be using a Himax 6330 Pro and Castle Creations 80 Amp HV esc. Hitec digital servos will operate the control services and my trusty Airtronic radio will provide the signals. The removable chin cowl will aid in making this a firewalled mounted motor. I have never tried to do a build thread, but if Bryan gives me the go ahead, I will give it a go.

Some of the features include pre-hinged control surfaces that are sealed along the entire length which means no sealing issues with mylar film or Blenderm tape. The weight of the components are extremely light weight and incredibly well crafted. The paint scheme is very attractive and well done.

Things like the individual components weights and photograph documentation will be forthcoming after I talk with Bryan.

Sheldon

ben beyer

My Feedback: (23)

I'd like to see some build pictures!

karlwatt

My Feedback: (14)

I would like to hear a flight report

Smooth Pilot

Hang on guys. I have gathered most of what I need and started working on a depron template for the fire wall. I looked for my camera and could not find it, but I will try and start posting pictures soon.

Sheldon

Smooth Pilot

Jason, may I continue to use this thread for the build or should I start a separate one?

Sheldon

Smooth Pilot

OK, Bryan said I can post a build thread for the electric version of the Caressa. Unfortunately, I have never done anything like this before so I am hoping someone out there will help me. For example, how do I post pictures that are stored on my hard drive to the thread?

Jason Arnold

Hi Sheldon, of course use this thread mate. It keeps all the Caressa information in one place.

Cheers,
Jason.

Smooth Pilot

Thanks Jason. I will get started as soon as I figure out how to post pictures.

Sheldon

I guess I figured it out. More to come soon. Still in the box with the protective covering removed.

Smooth Pilot

Here are more photos: The plane comes with pre-hinged control surfaces, so there is not a lot of assembly to do. Since I am firewall mounting the motor I made up a depron template and traced it onto aircraft grade I/8-inch plywood. At the suggestion of Mark Hunt, designer and builder extraordinaire, I added a couple of carbon fiber stiffeners using Hysol epoxy. The screw holes are slightly askew as I rotated the motor slightly so I could run the motor wires through the cheek cowl. More to come.

Sheldon

Jeff Worsham

My Feedback: (28)

Hey Sheldon- glad to see you are doing this! I'm following along

Smooth Pilot

Thanks Jeff, glad to have you onboard.

The next round of pictures: I created a depron bulkhead to put in the chin cowl to direct the air flow from the dead space up and over the ESC and batteries. The second photo shows all the empty space in the cowl area. I used Gorilla glue to get a clean seal. Then mounted the motor with a 1/16 plywood spacer and secure the firewall with Hysol epoxy using one of the mixer nozzles to reach as much of the firewall as I could and left it to cure overnight. Next day I routed out the nose ring to remove the motor and then finished hitting all the spaces I could not reach on the first pass with Hysol. At this point I want to warn everybody that is contemplating a firewall mount that the routing of the nose ring is relatively tough, The ring is very beefy and has carbon fiber plate. My Dremel router got through every thing, but it was tough.On to mounting the control horns and servos in the next installment.

Sheldon

Smooth Pilot

Aileron and elevator servos mounted and connected. Tailwheel is also installed. By the way, the tailwheel and main landing gear wheels are not included in this kit. Holes were cut in the bottom of the fuselage to let the forced air out.

Smooth Pilot

Mounting the main gear legs was straight forward, but I did have to round out the edge of the fuselage on one side to get the gear to fit with my Dremel router. No real problem. I am going to start with an APC 21X13.5 propeller and eventually increase to a carbon fiber 21X14 after I experience the takeoff and landing characteristics of the Caressa.

ben beyer

My Feedback: (23)

I would take some canopy glue and use it between the tire and the rim on your tailwheel. I have that same Gator RC tailwheel and I've had the tire come off of the rim numerous times.

Smooth Pilot

Good point. I will do that.

Sheldon

Smooth Pilot

The stab/elevators are mounted and checked for center and equal throw. I made some light weight receiver and battery trays from 1/4-inch depron backed with some 1/16-inch balsa sheet and started mounting the radio. I threaded the wires from the tail surfaces through the support structure using a ball chain and magnetic extension driver and secured them with masking tape and a wire wrap. The final thing I have done for this instalment is cut the holes in the fuselage for the aileron wires. I put the electronic speed control on the front edge of the battery area and faced the composite with some 1/16-inch balsa to make it rigid. I talked with Bryan and he said to set the control throws as follows:
Aileron control 10 degrees
Elevator control 12 degrees
Rudder to 100%
Adjust the CG so it is starting out at the rear of the wing tube.

Sheldon

CG Adjustment will be done with the battery tray and batteries set in the plane and located to balance. It will be documented in the net go around

Smooth Pilot

The battery tray has been placed in the plane with the batteries to set the CG. As you can see the CG balances at the rear of the wing tube. The tray has been appropriately marked and will be installed using a removable tray system. I purchased the removable tray kit from F3A Unlimited, but could only use part of it for the front mount. I had to get a little creative to complete the mount, but I figured out something. All control throws were set to Bryan's instructions with the exception of the snap roll recommendations. Snap rolls are not in my sequence at this time, so I did not bother setting them up. All that is left now is to program the ESC, adjust my throttle curve to keep from over-amping, and add some packing tape to the canopy to improve the air flow over the batteries. Final pictures will be forthcoming. I hope to get with Bryan this weekend or as soon as he is available to get the maiden flight and trim set up. Of course, that will result in a flight report.

Sheldon

big_G

Very clean installation, Sheldon. Also looking forward to the flight report.