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Joined: 2/19/2004 From: MOBILE,
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The 2M Spirit is on the building board. I have built two vert. fins one to the plans and one at 1.25 scale according to mods. I found on internet. Has anyone built and flown this mod. and how did it perform or is it worth the time? Smoking Joe
< Message edited by smoking joe -- 5/30/2004 10:08:18 PM >
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Joined: 6/20/2003 From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA Status: offline
Hiya A few hours ago, I took my spirit for its first flight.. It was build from a kit without any modifications to the plans... (after about 8 months of work...) It was my first sailplane that I have built and flown...
I found it to be responsive enough during turns.. I dont know how it would cope/fly with stronger winds, as there was only a light breeze...
I'm thinking of constructing a second fuse so I can fit a electric motor to allow easier launches...
I'm really thrilled with my first flight and cant wait to get back into the air!!!!
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Joined: 3/23/2004 From: SoCal,
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Flew on off of a very windy bluff (small cliff). Was a hand full keeping it turning. Had to lead it and keep the nose down to have rudder authority. But it's possible. Definately not an aileron sloper!
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I think the rudder issue is precisely what Dr. Drela addresses with the increased size of fin and rudder his mod called for increasing by 1.25 I took plans to local blueprint shop and had them print the rudder and fin to 1.25 for about $5 it is massive compared to original but doesn't look out of proportion to horiz. stab and elev. there are even more mods to wing and fuselage but I don't know if I will follow those are just build the damn thing and fly. Smoking Joe
The Spirit is a great beginner sailplane and mine has the sheeted tips modification (both top and bottom) and I wish I did the rudder modification as well since it needs some speed for rudder authority. I've thermaled it for more than an hour, not bad for a hand-me-down sailplane
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I did the rudder mod after reading Drela's mods on the Internet, it is massive in comparison. I am building wing panels now have L inner and now L outer going slow as I have other projects in the making, I acquired a winch today which needs a lot of redoing, but I plan on doing the wings as to his suggestions. Will spend more time on this plane now that I have something to fly. SJ
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Have flown the Spirit 2M for about a year. It is more of a light to moderate wind plane. You can add ballast, and that helps but is it still more of a floater.
I have heard of suggestions for a larger rudder.
Could you post a link to this site with the mods?
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Clear Skies and Safe Flying! Ed Anderson Moderator Park Pilot Program Partner
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Here is one way to put a motor on a Spirit without permanently mounting it so you can fly with or without a motor.
MODIFYING THE PLANE FOR AN ELECTRIC REMOVALBE POWER POD
My original interior layout used two CS-61 standard servos which sat under the wing, which is the standard placement. That arrangement required about 4 oz of lead in the nose weight compartment for balance. This is pretty typical for a Spirit, or so I am told.
During my learning period using a winch I crashed the plane which required lots of repairs. So, I decided to make improvements in the process.
The first change was to embed about 1 oz of lead in the nose block which gets it about 1" further forward than the ballast box. Then I moved the R/E servos forward, to the rear of the receiver compartment. The standard size cs-61 servos that were already in the plane just fit here and the weight forward helped further reduce balance weight.
I switched to a Micro 555 receiver, instead of the original 3 channel AM receiver so I have a channel for motor control. Its small size allowed me to use reuse the standard servos in this placement.
With this 3 inch shift forward of the servo weigh, a change to the Micro 555 receiver, plus a 1" shift forward of weight to the nose block, I reduced the net balance lead and end up with a plane that is 2 ozs lighter.
A second change was to switch to golden 'n rod control rods for the elevator and rudder so I could run them down the sides of the plane. The standard control rods ran down the center. This opens up the space under the wing, which is right over the CG, to accomodate a 2100 mah nicadbattery pack to power the Speed 600 power pod.
Now I can convert from sailplane to e-glider at will. Placing the battery directly over the CG means I don't have to rebalance the plane on the change over.
With these changes I have a lighter plane and gain the flexibility to add electric power at will, or have a very convenient place to add ballast weight when I am flying in heavy wind. I always found it challenging to find a well balanced place to add ballast. Now it is easy.
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AEAJR I got the mods from the Charles River RC group. www.charlesriverrc.org I can't find the original site I found it on but it covers the rudder wing and fuselage mods or beefing it up. Smoking Joe
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AEAJR Go to web site and use their search, type in Spirit 2m modifications. I found it just now. I used this information to build vert. fin and rudder. Any blueprint shop will blow up your plans if not e-mail for a copy. Smoking Joe
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AEAJR Sorry I got wires crossed I thought you wanted site where I got mods.My Spirit is coming along slowly the canopy has thrown me a couple of loops. Hope to work out kinks tonite. Smoking Joe
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2M Spirit met it's demise today - 
