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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Giant Scale Aircraft - General >> RE: Tree Hopper
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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/17/2007 1:45:16 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		My treehopper feels heavy to me but I haven't gotten it together just yet.

I have to:
Glue in the tail surfaces.
Glue in control surfaces.
Mount radio gear.
Install fuel tank.


Not too bad. Anyone else have a weight on theirs?

Thanks for the info on throws.

Craig

< Message edited by psk560 -- 11/17/2007 1:46:04 AM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/21/2007 11:26:19 PM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		I'm not so bold as to say that the following is the way to go; it's just what's working for me right now. Here is what I came up with on my Tree Hopper:

CG (empty) = about 4 1/4" aft of the leading edge (close to or maybe slightly ahead of the spar).

Elevator = 1 3/4" Up, 1 1/2" Down, Expo = -40% up & down
Rudder = 1 5/8" Left and Right (no Expo)
Aileron = 3/4" Up 1" Down, Expo = -25% up & down

I didn't set up the Elevator and Aileron intending to have different amounts of up and down throw, they just ended up that way. If I'm not mistaken, there should really be more Up Aileron than Down to counteract adverse yaw. I haven't taken the time to mess with it much except this last summer, I mixed aileron with the rudder so that at full aileron travel, the rudder moves 3/8" (in the direction of the turn). I don't use the mix all the time and turn this on or off from the transmitter depending on my mood (Futaba T9CAP). Next summer, I may try experimenting with differential aileron to get rid of the adverse yaw in turns. Aileron/Elevator/Rudder servos are Hitec HS645MG.

Tom


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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/22/2007 4:47:51 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		Troc,

Does yours float around? Mine only came out with about 76-77 inches of wingspan across the top. Some dihedral so It may be a bit more but my weight will be just under 14 1bs. I hope to test fly it friday. I just hope it will be a floater as it is my son's trainer but I don't think it will be. It came out heavy so I tried to lighten it by cutting away at the balsa down the backside of the fuse (top/bottom). I also used thinner wood for the sheeting of the fuse. From calculations I believe I'm around 28 oz/sqft. I don't remember if that is good or not. Oh well. It should be a blast to fly either way. Install three servos, balance and fly.

Craig

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/22/2007 5:20:22 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Craig,

I don't think that the wing loading is to bad on it. The site says that it should be around 21 oz/sq ft, and between 12-14lbs. I can't find if you installed flaps or not, if so they would help slow things down. I have been working on plumbing around house so haven't gotten back to finish mine yet. I will post though as I start finishing up. Oh, I forgot to tell you I checked out your videos on your site. They looked great! I especially liked the music playing in the background. Cya, Ben

< Message edited by teufelhund -- 11/22/2007 5:36:04 AM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/22/2007 6:09:51 AM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Craig,

I wouldn't call it a "floater" but there seems to be enough wing to do the job. It definately doesn't fly like a .40 size airplane and you can tell it has some mass, but I don't feel like it's tricky to fly. For kicks this last summer, I wanted to see how long it lasted on a tank of gas so took off, and throttled back and flew it around for nearly 30 minutes (on 20 oz. tank?) at something above idle but less than half throttle. I'm thinking mine weighs 15 lbs. In a previous post, I also mentioned that I added some downthrust to the engine and I think this did a lot to improve it's handling.

Tom

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       Post #: 55

RE: Tree Hopper - 11/22/2007 6:19:56 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Heya Tom, I took your advice and built 2 degrees downthrust into the nacelles. I also made the horizontal stab removable via two 1/4 wing bolts. After I get this finished and if I like the fight charcteristics with the wing she's getting some floats bolted on. I think it would really make agreat float plane and i have the power, so I'll just have to see when i get her in the air. I have come up with a way to add some more wing if I have to based on the common phenolic/aluminum spar method. I'm thinking maybe an extra 12 inches to each wingtip. Still have to fly her, she may be just fine the way she is. Cya, Ben

< Message edited by teufelhund -- 11/22/2007 6:21:22 AM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/22/2007 6:36:04 AM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Ben,

I'm tempted to put mine on floats too. A guy in the club says the plane is just itchin' to have floats on it.

Wow, 12" on each wing! Were I to build another, I'd be tempted to extend the wings one bay on each; mostly for looks but I'd be interested in seeing what difference there would be in the flying too.

I'm anxiously waiting to hear how your twin flys.

Tom

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       Post #: 57

RE: Tree Hopper - 11/24/2007 2:38:28 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		Test flight report:

Engine ran ok. I will probably replace this old engine when it finally gives in but it did run reliable once I got the mixes correct. One of those cheap 26 cc engines would be fun on this.

I need to replace the wheels for some nice soft foam ones or maybe some balloon wheels. That will give the landing gear a little more bounce. I also added another elevator servo as I didn't modify the kit when I built the stab. Had I known it was going to be so weak I would have opted for a wire joiner instead of the wood supplied with the kit. I also modified the tail of the plane by cutting holes in the sheeting on top and bottom to lighten it up. I also used 1/32 sheeting instead of 1/8.

The airplane flew very slow once I got it into the air. The engine sips fuel so I was capable of flying 1/2 tank for 20 minutes. I floated around about 1/3 throttle flying with just the rudder and elevator. WIth flaps it slows to a very nice crawl. I landed with the flaps down but it was pretty windy out today (15mph).

SETUP:

Maloney 125 with 15-8 prop. (note: It is not a 125cc engine. Actually about a 20cc engine)
7 hitec 605's. 2-elevator, 1 rudder, 2 flaps, 2 ailerons
1 standard on throttle
A123 2300 mah battery
Futaba guidance
13 lbs dry.


video at: www.psk560.com

As you can see from the picture it is a very relaxing plane to fly. Very fun!

Craig


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< Message edited by psk560 -- 11/24/2007 12:19:44 PM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/24/2007 2:59:07 AM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Congratulations, Craig! Glad to see someone else get airborne with their Treehopper. Nice job keeping the weight down to 13 lbs. too. Looks good.

Tom

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/25/2007 2:48:13 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		Tom,
Thanks for the compliments. It is fun to fly...


I took it out today and flew four 20 to 30 minute flights. I may have made the tail too light because some of the vibration shook one of the servo screws out (I'm pretty sure I put it in...LOL). The tail shakes some so I may put some flying wires on the tail to reduce the vibration of the surfaces. I was able to land much better in the wind without flaps. It does really nice one wheel landings just like a cub. The engine runs well but it doesn't transition as it is slow to respond. No complaints so far on the plane. It flies very well with just the rudder and the elevator.

Fun,
Craig

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RE: Tree Hopper - 11/25/2007 8:05:20 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Craig,

Glad to see you got it flying! Sounds like you have a great flyer there. I have got to get mine finished so we can all compare the flight characteristics. I just have to buckle down and get it done . So you say it slows nicely with the flaps and has good slow flight characteristics? I think mine will be a little faster though on the wing . Congrats on getting it done and flying! Ciao, Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/3/2007 1:43:39 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		teufelhund: It flies fine on the wing. My son's needs some more power so I think I may go to the zenoah 26 or maybe even one of those chinese 26s. The 20cc maloney flies it great once you get it into the air and we've had 42 minute flights on a 16oz tank. I've considered making a larger wing with the templates so if you are building yours now, stretch the wing a couple of inches. Mine only came out 76inches and that was a little dissapointing. My set of plans were a bit short...

We had a bunch of nice planes out at the field today and more people watched the trainer than the yaks and extras... Some because they couldn't believe the baloney, I mean maloney 125 ran. Talk about fun!

Treehopper, 3w 37.5%yak, 3m comp arf yak 55, Jtec 40+% extraa 330L. Talk about good company!

My son is having a blast with it...
Craig

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< Message edited by psk560 -- 12/3/2007 1:45:16 AM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/3/2007 9:50:56 PM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Craig,

Looks like you two are having loads of fun with it! It's great to see some young kids take pleasure in something other than video games. You guys aren't getting any of this wind we have here apparently. It's gusting to 25 mph in some areas of SE NC. Unusual to say the least. I usually am able to fly all through the year without having to worry about the wind other than in March and April. Great to see the Treehopper on the flightline though! I did stretch my wing to 82" when I was building it though. I think if not it would have been the same as yours, though I dont see why they advertise it as having a larger wing than it actually does.Typo maybe? Check you guys later! Ben

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