ZN Line twister Seller:danno-RCU Details:
$1,100.00
| 10/2/2008
| Classified Ad
We will rotate YOUR AD in this spot if you select "Forum Featured" when placing or editing your ad!
Posts: 2419
Joined: 10/27/2002 From: Woodstock, GA, USA Status: online
After an exhaustive period of design, engineering, testing and countless dollars and hours, we are pleased to announce the Black Magic VF3 with an estimated release date this summer. The plane shown here is the prototype, a fast and dirty one day monokote scheme. It is currently undergoing flight testing and needs just a little refinement, and I do mean VERY little, because it is so close to exactly what I was going after....and much more....already. We test flew it originally at the Ocala contest, in heavy winds. Thus we were unable to fully trim and set up the plane, but even in this state some flew it and were favorably impressed, as it was fairly close right off the table. After finishing the set up of the trim and throws, it’s nothing short of amazing.
We took a novel approach to the design of this plane: we listened. We enlisted the input of some of the best pilots, designers and builders in the USA, and after initial flight testing, the results speak for themself. This plane is ultra competetive at ALL levels, and was primarily designed as an FAI plane. It excels in rolling combined manuevers, tracking, snapping, rudder work, and is a very cutting edge design. There are no sacrifices and no compromises with the flight characteristics of this plane. You don’t need a silly T canalizer to make the rudder behave, although we’re playing with some interesting things. The behavior and tracking in high turbulent wind is downright unbelievable. It is at least equal to if not better than any plane in the world today, and I say that with the utmost confidence. We took every opportunity to enhance the qualities and balance of this plane to be a “total package”. We are just about there right now. We’re still looking for it’s weaknesses, and really haven’t found anything yet. I’m sure some plane out there may do one manuever a little easier, but this plane gives up nothing to any other plane in the world as far as the balance and flyability. The tracking, snapping, speed control and the way it handles high turbulent wind is absolutely uncanny. You have to see it to believe it, and this is one reason I haven’t said much until now...because this plane just shocked me, to put it bluntly.
I was afraid because of it’s size, it would be primarily for FAI and would be a detriment to a novice pilot. In the past, most designs of this size just won’t handle the wind well in the hands of a pilot who is fighting a crosswind. This plane is one of the tallest in the world, if not THE tallest, and I would almost go as far as to say it practically ignores the wind. The way it deals with turbulence is particularly impressive. It will weathervane slightly in a heavy dead cross, but it’s very easy and manageable, and not NEARLY as pronounced as other planes of this size. So right now I would have to say there is NO downside for a beginner that I can identify. That sort of changes the rules to the game, and I assure you it is just as much of a suprise to me. I designed it to penetrate, but never expected this.
Is it perfect? No, as long as we use spinning propellers things are a balance. But this is the most all around balanced plane I know of so far. And the things it excels in, are just downright amazing. Mixes are slim to none, right now the elevator is mixed to where it moves a hair at full left rudder deflection, the rest are not even measureable. Inverted pushes with this plane are suprisingly clean, it flies as well inverted as it does upright. Rolls are perfectly axial with no differential, upline and downlines are dead straight, upline and downline rolls are also dead straight, no adverse yaw at all, no dutch roll. Phrases coming from the test camp are things like “downlines are MONEY” and “points falling from heaven”. LOLOL this is why I have been quiet, the feedback is over the top. New plane euphoria is real, but apparently so is this plane. I only needed a few passes myself to know I had exactly what I wanted and then some.
What it is:
A true thoroughbred plane designed for the most challenging FAI sequences.
Although mainly constructed from wood and foam, many composite parts are utilized for ease of construction, strength and weight considerations. This was done primarily because I have to build them myself to make weight with axi outrunners and the heaviest of battery packs. I didn’t want to have to pull my hair out to make it happen. Well, let me tell you now....it’s easily doable. This plane is the lightest, strongest and most durable structure in the world today. And that is including fully composite planes. Some may be lighter, some may be stronger, but none of them are this light AND this strong. Coupled with a design that flies like this.....BINGO
Designed from the ground up to be a laser/CNC kit. Parts interlock via built in alignment tabs. These kits are like nothing you have ever seen before. Every single piece of this aircraft has been well thought out, engineered for maximum efficiency, strength to weight ratios and durability. Parts have been tested, fitted, retested and refitted until nothing is left to chance.
Ease of building and relatively low parts count were of utmost importance to us. All wood is hand picked and cut to perfection. Once the foam cores are sheeted, an average builder can frame this plane to the finishing stages in only a couple of week nights and weekends. The work involved isn’t too much more than your typical ARF, and argueably easier than the lower end stuff. If you possess the skill to build a Sig Kougar or a Kaos, you can build this plane with ease There really is nothing to compare it to, because before now it didn’t really exist.
What it is NOT:
It isn’t anything like you’ve ever seen before in a “wood” kit. Forget the preformed opinions and stereotypes about building in general and wood planes, because they simply do not apply. If you “don’t have time” to build, you may now be kidding yourself. If you “can’t build a plane as good as the chinese”, you may again be kidding yourself...you can do it MUCH better. Finishing is still up to you of course, but the actual structure of the plane itself is extremely easy, rigid and light. Complex shapes were kept to a minimum so anyone can use monokote on all but the composite parts.
Forget the stereotype that a wood plane is heavier than a composite plane of the same size, that is utter bull crap and a generalization that is as old as the first composite plane ever made. It is simply untrue. All that is required is the right materials and the right design and engineering. If you put 3 lbs of paint on it, that’s your fault =)
Forget jigs and fixtures, you simply need a flat table with a single straight line drawn on it. Although I still much prefer the use of a jig, it can be done without one very easily.
This plane is NOT simply an updated or bashed version of the Black Magic V2. The entire design is completely different, from the ground up.
This plane is NOT an ARF. Although you do have to build and finish it, even a rank beginner or a person with very little time can easily have an airframe comparable to the most high end ARFs or professionally built planes.
This plane is NOT a compromise in any area. Some aesthetic things were kept simple for the sake of time and weight, but the plane itself is a cutting edge flyer. The kits are borderline ridiculous in quality.
This plane is NOT small. It is one of the larger F3A planes in the world. If you don’t like the “pregnant guppy” look, you will probably hate the looks of this plane. That’s ok, to each his own. Fly it then tell me how you like it.
This plane is NOT specifically an “entry level” plane. If you are not fairly comfortable with the left stick, you will be very soon after flying this plane. With that said, it is one of the easiest planes to fly, including heavy winds. Judging by the sheer size I was afraid it would act the same in crosswinds as other planes....it does not. This plane is designed to penetrate turbulence, yet still offer very slow downlines. The flight speed envelope is VERY wide. Don’t be shocked if you find yourself adding power in downlines.
General info:
Wingspan- 74 Length- 78.25 Weight- 9.5-10.75 lbs (depending on equipment choice and finish) Power- 160+ glow or electric Construction- balsa, foam, composite
To sum up:
Our goal was to go back to square one and design a “no compromises” plane fully capable of competing with the best in the world, PERIOD. We did not use simplified construction methods specifically to make it simple, we used these techniques because they produce the lightest, strongest, straightest structure available. Making it easy to build was a selfish reason....I have to build them too
The plane was designed around the axi/hacker outrunner electric set ups and the YS/Hatori combination. Use of a 2 stroke glow OR gas with a long exhaust was made simple by making a very easy open pipe tunnel. Any power system will work, but I would not suggest anything less than a 160 glow. Although a 140 would pull this plane through the lower class sequences very well, to get the full performance of this design you really need a 160.
This plane can be built extremely light, much lighter than generally thought possible before. Making weight even with the heaviest of electric set ups is not difficult at all. The “true” weight of the prototype, which was built with heavy regular balsa, heavy equipment and nothing even trimmed, is about 10 lbs 4 ounces, because it was weighed at 10lbs 6 ounces with the header tank full. The use of contest balsa alone would easily make this plane in the mid 9s with no special tricks, even glassed and painted.... Of course, your finishing methods could vary the weight in the end.
The completeness of the kits is still being worked out. My hope is to make a very basic and inexpensive wood kit for those wanting a world class plane without a world class price tag, and a top end “pro level” kit that is very complete with all of the perks, for those who want the BEST. Exact pricing and availability is to be determined soon. I used a LOT of carbon laminates in the top end kits, so it won’t be dirt cheap. The lower end kits are essentially the same plane without the fancy carbon stuff. Naturally they will be a hair bit heavier when finished, but will still last forever and a day.
The V2 is the plane that can take you from Sportsman to masters with the best of them. This is the plane that can get you all the way to the FAI finals. The V2.2 is still one of the best planes out there for the AMA classes, but this one may be even better. We have intermediate pilots testing it too so we shall see. So far the feedback is very VERY positive.
The bar has been raised. If I sound confident, it’s because I am. I cannot possibly express the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this plane, on everyone’s part. This plane is American designed, constructed and tested, and fully supported by cottage industry families dedicated to one thing: making available to you the best plane we can possibly make. I hope to have this plane ready for early summer, with an estimated release date around the Nats.
-Mike
_____________________________
Owner Custom Airframes of America, Team YS, Mercury Adhesives
Why do you have to be like that?? I just got my Pentathlon kit and no time to build, now I will probably have to order the VF3 when it comes out. That's another kit, another gas engine, more servos, etc... You trying to keep me broke or what? And then there is the time issue. I am going to be bleary eyed and screwed up from the sleep deprivation necessary to build all these fantastic airplanes before I die.
So, I ask you - Why do you have to be like that??
Gorgeous plane, congrats on an excellent piece of work.
Posts: 548
Joined: 7/28/2002 From: Nineveh,
IN, USA Status: online
Can the fuse be covered instead of glass and paint, guess what I'm asking is does the fuse need glassed to add strenght to it? Looks great Mike make you look small LOL. Steve Maxwell
Posts: 695
Joined: 3/14/2005 From: Hotlanta,
GA, USA Status: online
Hey Guys,
Some of you all know I've been good friends with Mike for a long time, actually it was love at first site, well I mean at my first pattern meet (Andersonville, Ga 2005) I saw the lovely Black Magic V1 prototype sitting in the pits. It was brand new, all done up in cub yellow and metallic blue trim. It was true love, I didn't know what that plane was or who owned it, I just had to have it. Well to make a long story short, I ended up becoming great friends with Mike and Melissa. I started building a V2 at the beginning of last years pattern season. Yea, I went though the ups and downs of pattern life with two midairs last year, the last one taking away from me that Black Magic prototype that Mike actually gave me after my first midair earlier in the season. Love can be tough at times. But I learned a lot about pattern, flying and competition from Mike and my other close pattern friends last year.
I was lucky enough to win a sheeted kit from Mike for my districts finish last year and Mike gave me the option of waiting a bit longer for his newest creation. It was a no brainer - I said "yes... hell yes" most likely the best decision I've made in a long time.
I've started my VF3 build last weekend, first I made a "fixture" style jig. Which like Mike says it isn't even needed because you can actually tape the fuse together, line it up on a straight line and hit it with CA. You can build the entire crutch in less than 2 hours including assembling the fuselage sides. Right now the most time consuming part of the basic fuse build is hand cutting the flooring which Mike is considering having laser cut. What is nice about my fixture jig is you can align the wing and stab tubes at the same time. Pete's jig works the same way. I also have Pete's Jig and have built a number of fuses with his setup as well, I do recommend Pete's jig to anyone.
Mike is right, this plane is so easy to build, it's freaky. I am rushing to have my secret weapon done in time for the majority of the D3 comps and Nats. To be frank about it, it's my only hope to have a good districts finish as I am up against some very great pilots in D3.
Here is a couple of shots of my build,
yea it's a VF3 BABY!
cheers all!
< Message edited by handglider -- 4/4/2007 10:39:25 PM >
Posts: 2419
Joined: 10/27/2002 From: Woodstock, GA, USA Status: online
Steve, the plane in the pictures is all monokote. I intentionally kept some things simple just for that reason. the only 2 tricky spots are the fin area where it blends into the fuse (which may be replaced with a composite fin, working on that now) and the area right behind the cowl.
I did the fuse and rudder in one day.
-Mike
_____________________________
Owner Custom Airframes of America, Team YS, Mercury Adhesives
Posts: 263
Joined: 3/25/2002 From: Orange Park,
FL, USA Status: offline
Here is some pictures I got of it in Ocala, to bad we were not able to get some in flight Mike but GMA is just around the corner. I will send these to you as well. See you in GA!!
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pattern Flying >> Coming this summer: Black Magic VF3 
Coming this summer: Black Magic VF3 - 
