Projet Sky Trainer 140
04-11-2012, 12:23 PM
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Projet Sky Trainer 140
We've all experienced the common wisdom of "You get what you pay for". In my experience however, I got less Cessna 182 than I expected for my $180. ARF? I don't think so.
Yes, the fiberglass fuse with integrated fin and separate cowl are pretty. But the fin was not straight, the molded stabilizer roots had significant negative incidence compared to the wing, the wing joiner tube is aluminum instead of CF, the single (servo) tray ply was seriously delaminated and broken in places, the landing gear mounts and gear itself was undrilled (which was a good thing since the mounting instructions were wrong). There was a really nice, flimsy, and complicated anti-vibration motor mount included which may have actually worked had I used it.
The rudder control rod is the worst piece of engineering I've ever had the intelligence to disregard and replace with a pull-pull. I mean, most of the servo movement just bent the rod fore and aft - I could move the rudder from one stop to the other against the servo with one finger. The pull-pull works perfectly (drill the holes between the 3rd and 4th molded rivet holes inboard of the stabs).
Lastly, there was no provision to mount the battery.
I needed one full pound of lead on the firewall to balance the plane at 33%. I shoulda used a bigger engine like a nice, heavy G-38.
There's more but you get the picture.
I still think it will fly, though. I am using a Turnigy 26 HP-S gas motor, RCExcel ignition, RCExcel Optilkill ignition switch, 2000 mAh 4-cell for the ignition, 1950 mAh 5 sub-C Ni-Cad for the Hitec Optima 7 receiver and 7 Hitec digital MG servos.
With a wing cube loading of 14.1 oz/sq ft., it's gonna need to stay fast, like a warbird. I'm really not that good a pilot, but I'm thinking the big flaps will slow it down enough to land on our 400 foot asphalt runway. I am not thinking about how thin the landing gear mount ply is. I'm not thinking about it. I'm not….
04-13-2012, 11:22 AM
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RE: Projet Sky Trainer 140
Hate to break it but I think with all the problems you need to get a good new kit. The saying goes the same with RC and full size planes. if you take a short cut it will come back and hurt you. Plus you say your not that good a pilot, unless you have flown others that are close to the same size I say you go back and start with something smaller like a nitro.
04-13-2012, 07:28 PM
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RE: Projet Sky Trainer 140
ORIGINAL: ahicks
14.1 oz/sq ft. is glider or maybe 3D profile type wing loading. 3 times that puts you into warbird country.
14.1 oz/sq ft. is glider or maybe 3D profile type wing loading. 3 times that puts you into warbird country.
I use the calculation (lbs*16)/((wing area in sq inches/144)to the power of 1.5).
I believe the wing cube calculation takes the plane's size into account. When I checked wing loading of actual airplanes, I found wing loadings in the 200 - 300 oz/sq ft range. If so, how can they fly? I think the higher actual speeds of real airplanes enable the "laminar effect" so the wing will actually work.
Wing cube is, IMHO, more accurate.
Thus, it is pretty near (model) warbird country.
04-14-2012, 06:14 AM
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RE: Projet Sky Trainer 140
ORIGINAL: Texastbird
My friend has one and it floats along pretty good. A couple of changes to beef up a few places and its a good enough flying airplane. Enjoy!
My friend has one and it floats along pretty good. A couple of changes to beef up a few places and its a good enough flying airplane. Enjoy!
04-15-2012, 06:24 AM
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RE: Projet Sky Trainer 140
Mainly landing gear area, and engine mount? The usual ARF problem areas. I think most of the hardware was upgraded too. He's on RCU sometimes, maybe he'll chime in and correct my poor memory.
