The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
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The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
This one isn't super fast, but it's faster than most sport planes. Once it is trimmed, it is stable and easy to fly. It does have a rudder so you can correct for an engine out or do acro.
I designed the modification to a stock Diamond Dust kit. I used longer carbon fiber tubes from a kite shop and extended the wing. My buddy Carl "Flaps" Laffert, a WW II Marine aviator, did the construction.
Power: 2 OS .25FXs, 9-6 props. (The center-to-center spacing is 11.5" so a pair of .46s could be used.)
Span: 47.5"
Area: 880 sq in
Weight: 4# 14oz
Wing Loading: 12.75
I designed the modification to a stock Diamond Dust kit. I used longer carbon fiber tubes from a kite shop and extended the wing. My buddy Carl "Flaps" Laffert, a WW II Marine aviator, did the construction.
Power: 2 OS .25FXs, 9-6 props. (The center-to-center spacing is 11.5" so a pair of .46s could be used.)
Span: 47.5"
Area: 880 sq in
Weight: 4# 14oz
Wing Loading: 12.75
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Looks great! If you have a computer radio, you could mix in some thrust differential for some fun manuvers. I did this with one of my Mini Twin 250's and it does great, almost hovering flat spins.
I'm pretty sure with those two engines, you could probably get it to climb in a flat spin
Here is a video of the "hovering" flat spin I'm talking about: http://speedwing.net/assets/multimed...ing_saucer.wmv
-- Acer
I'm pretty sure with those two engines, you could probably get it to climb in a flat spin
Here is a video of the "hovering" flat spin I'm talking about: http://speedwing.net/assets/multimed...ing_saucer.wmv
-- Acer
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Since I flew the Deuce the first weekend, I built a launcher out of 3/4" PVC. It hooks over the end of our table and then is bungee corded in place. After starting, my helper lowers the rear leg of the table, putting the plane in a 30 degree angle for launch. After I took the pictured, I added a wood block and a restraining pin, actually an aluminum arrow shaft, that can be pulled for releasing the plane. When the plane was built, we added ply on top and bottom of the TE near the center for using a restraining pin.
I have flown it twice from the launcher and it works extremely well. Much better than a hand launch. The pin holds the plane while I start and run up. When I give a nod, my helper pulls the pin.
I have flown it twice from the launcher and it works extremely well. Much better than a hand launch. The pin holds the plane while I start and run up. When I give a nod, my helper pulls the pin.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
I'm building a twin OS .25 FX powered Lanier Shrike. I did something similiar to you by making it a 44 inch wingspan. I also want to run thrust differential on it to allow some interesting flights. Your plane looks nice though. How fast?
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
No idea on speed. Except for the first day when we took the pictures, it has been cloudy so I have had to keep it fairly low and at low power.
I do plan to change to APC props and maybe add some mousse can mufflers for more speed.
I do plan to change to APC props and maybe add some mousse can mufflers for more speed.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
I decided to add a little speed so I now have Jett mufflers and APC 8-7 props. It still flies very nicely and is faster. No idea on the speed.
One thing I have noticed with the small props and my launcher which puts the plane at 30 degree up angle, the plane turns left close to 90 degrees on launch. The first time it got my attention. I guess the 30 degree angle gives it P-factor from hell.
One thing I have noticed with the small props and my launcher which puts the plane at 30 degree up angle, the plane turns left close to 90 degrees on launch. The first time it got my attention. I guess the 30 degree angle gives it P-factor from hell.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Hi Ed,
Very cool plane, I have 2 questions:
1) Do the bungees assist with the launch or are they there to just keep the PVC pipes on the table?
2) How did you set up the pin-mechanism (that keeps it from launching until the appropriate time), did you put a hole in the Dust and then in the table and put a rod in or did you use some other way?
Very cool plane, I have 2 questions:
1) Do the bungees assist with the launch or are they there to just keep the PVC pipes on the table?
2) How did you set up the pin-mechanism (that keeps it from launching until the appropriate time), did you put a hole in the Dust and then in the table and put a rod in or did you use some other way?
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Hey Ed....
Looks pretty nice. Even adds to the color scheme
Yeah, that P-factor and be a real handful, expecially with the twin. But usually the smaller diameter props tend to reduce that more than add to it.
A few folks flying Dusts and Whips have been using take-off dollys.... might be an option to look at as well.
Bob
Looks pretty nice. Even adds to the color scheme
Yeah, that P-factor and be a real handful, expecially with the twin. But usually the smaller diameter props tend to reduce that more than add to it.
A few folks flying Dusts and Whips have been using take-off dollys.... might be an option to look at as well.
Bob
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Ed, Nice setup. You might want to try a couple of apc 9x5 props. The takeoff will be better and your speed might even increase.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
With 9-6 Master Airscrews, it took off very nicely from the launcher. With the smaller 8" props and the Jett mufflers, it did a 90 left on both the 8-7 & 8-6. I'll hold more rudder next time. It wasn't out of control or anything, it just went left and flew straight after that.
The bungees just hold the launcher to the table. With a little up elevator, it goes right off the launcher. I have about 1/8" of up programmed to the landing switch and I flip it for take off. This gives me the right amount of up so I don't have to guess. At about 50 feet, I flip the switch off. It doesn't need a bungee assisted launch, it's more like don't take your eyes off it or it's gone.
There is a fixed piece between the elevons that we have faced with 1/16 ply. We use an arrow shaft pin through the ply and into a short piece of wood screwed to the PVC. We thought of a foot release, but since we fly from a paved area, we have to carry the table & launcher out, it's easier to have an assistant pull the pin. I nod, he pulls the pin and I'm off.
I'll get some 9-5 APCs to try.
The bungees just hold the launcher to the table. With a little up elevator, it goes right off the launcher. I have about 1/8" of up programmed to the landing switch and I flip it for take off. This gives me the right amount of up so I don't have to guess. At about 50 feet, I flip the switch off. It doesn't need a bungee assisted launch, it's more like don't take your eyes off it or it's gone.
There is a fixed piece between the elevons that we have faced with 1/16 ply. We use an arrow shaft pin through the ply and into a short piece of wood screwed to the PVC. We thought of a foot release, but since we fly from a paved area, we have to carry the table & launcher out, it's easier to have an assistant pull the pin. I nod, he pulls the pin and I'm off.
I'll get some 9-5 APCs to try.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
I tried the APC 9-5 props while flying at the Multis Over McDonough twin meet and they did work great. Nice take offs and good speed. Actually, I can't tell which prop gives the fastest speed, but I like the launch better with the 9-5s. Thanks for the tip.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
ORIGINAL: Ed_Moorman
I tried the APC 9-5 props while flying at the Multis Over McDonough twin meet and they did work great. Nice take offs and good speed. Actually, I can't tell which prop gives the fastest speed, but I like the launch better with the 9-5s. Thanks for the tip.
I tried the APC 9-5 props while flying at the Multis Over McDonough twin meet and they did work great. Nice take offs and good speed. Actually, I can't tell which prop gives the fastest speed, but I like the launch better with the 9-5s. Thanks for the tip.
Bob
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
I am now wondering how 2 OS .32SFs would do on the Dusty Deuce with the Jett mufflers? I am afraid that if I really lose my head and go for 2 .46s, the CG would be too far off to fix without a lot of weight. Maybe is we built another just for 2 .46s and moved the engines back and put the radio near the TE, it would balance OK.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Ed, You might think about a couple of Webra 32 engines. They run a lot better on the Jett tuned muffler than an OS 32 will and do not weigh any more than a 25 fx. With a 8 1/2 x 7 apc you better hold on.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
ORIGINAL: MyWay
Ed, You might think about a couple of Webra 32 engines. They run a lot better on the Jett tuned muffler than an OS 32 will and do not weigh any more than a 25 fx. With a 8 1/2 x 7 apc you better hold on.
Ed, You might think about a couple of Webra 32 engines. They run a lot better on the Jett tuned muffler than an OS 32 will and do not weigh any more than a 25 fx. With a 8 1/2 x 7 apc you better hold on.
Might even consider the TT36 too.
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RE: The Dusty Deuce-a twin engine Diamond Dust
Bob,
My previous experience with a TT .36 was not too good. It never would stay adjusted. I was doing fun fly at the time and pulling a lot of g's so that might have been the problem and not the engine. The heli guys at my field also did not have good experiences with the TT .36 and went to OS so I haven't considered it. Maybe it has been improved.
The Dusty Deuce is twin #19 for me and the Dual Ace after that is #20. Over the years, I have used many engines, but only OS has been really reliable in a twin set-up and I do value reliability over everything else. I don't know if it's the sympathetic vibration or what, but the Chinese engines seem to have one go lean and quit about every 3rd flight, whereas the OSs keep chugging on. I have used Magnum, GMS & Evo. The Evos on the Dual Ace are working pretty well, but one has a needle that wants to change. I guess I need a new clicker spring on it even though it only has a dozen or so flights on it.
Many years ago in the middle to late 1980s I ran Webras in the old fast pattern, but none since them. I do remember the old Speed .61 ran very well.
I think the best thing I can do regardless of which engines I choose is to get a couple of the Jett bubbleless tanks and a fueler. That ought to help things a lot. There's not much airframe to dampen vibration on a Dust.
My previous experience with a TT .36 was not too good. It never would stay adjusted. I was doing fun fly at the time and pulling a lot of g's so that might have been the problem and not the engine. The heli guys at my field also did not have good experiences with the TT .36 and went to OS so I haven't considered it. Maybe it has been improved.
The Dusty Deuce is twin #19 for me and the Dual Ace after that is #20. Over the years, I have used many engines, but only OS has been really reliable in a twin set-up and I do value reliability over everything else. I don't know if it's the sympathetic vibration or what, but the Chinese engines seem to have one go lean and quit about every 3rd flight, whereas the OSs keep chugging on. I have used Magnum, GMS & Evo. The Evos on the Dual Ace are working pretty well, but one has a needle that wants to change. I guess I need a new clicker spring on it even though it only has a dozen or so flights on it.
Many years ago in the middle to late 1980s I ran Webras in the old fast pattern, but none since them. I do remember the old Speed .61 ran very well.
I think the best thing I can do regardless of which engines I choose is to get a couple of the Jett bubbleless tanks and a fueler. That ought to help things a lot. There's not much airframe to dampen vibration on a Dust.