Sailplane towing - cradle

Sailplane towing - cradle
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Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/19/2008 7:38:39 PM

spiral_72

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From: Chesnee, SC, USA
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Well, with all this talk about towing your sailplane in the air.... got me thinking.

I can build a cradle for my glow plane to haul my Spirit in the air. That won't be a big deal really thanks to a link in another post. With a cradle nothing can go wrong right!?

-sounds like famous last words.

But seriously, my Spirit weighs in a 34oz. I've got a Pizazz I could fit a cradle on. I actually have a larger and more powerful plane, but I'd cry if something happened to that.

So the Pizazz is a 5lbs plane with about a 48" (52"???) inch wing. It's gotta .46 Thunder Tiger on it that'll pull the plane vertical with an 11x4 prop or hover with a wee bit of power to spare. The Spirit is quite a bit larger wing than the Pizazz and weighs about 50% as much. Do you think it'll work?

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/19/2008 8:17:26 PM

d_wheel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: spiral_72

That won't be a big deal really thanks to a link in another post. With a cradle nothing can go wrong right!?

What link are you referring to?

Later;

D.W.

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/19/2008 8:57:35 PM

BarracudaHockey

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This does it with no problem.

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/19/2008 9:37:02 PM

spiral_72

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quote:

ORIGINAL: d_wheel

What link are you referring to?

Right here: http://www.poboys.org/framepage.asp?frame=tips/glider0.htm
It's a very cool design I think. It was posted by brownknows here on RCU back in 2002

I'll have to modify it a because the Pizazz is a low wing plane. But, it shouldn't be too bad.

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/20/2008 3:04:11 PM

spiral_72

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It looks like a 63" trainer. What 4-stroke do you have on there?

I guess I'm worried about hauling up 2lbs of payload. I guess it IS 2lbs of airfoil, so lift won't be a problem (I hope)

I'll let you know how it goes... Thanks for the blessing

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/21/2008 1:13:07 AM

joedoe

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this is how we did it: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861582#post9996195

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< Message edited by joedoe -- 6/21/2008 3:06:57 PM >

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/21/2008 7:11:41 AM

OzMo

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there is a ready made version that hanger 9 I think made. search around and you will find some pics. they are easy enough to make just be sure the release is SMOOTH and build in 2 or 3 degrees of down attitude for the glider being piggy backed. the rubber bands af a trainer wing will hold the cradle down.

always release with the tow plane at idle!

seach for cradle design by tinkerpilot

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< Message edited by OzMo -- 6/21/2008 7:20:55 AM >

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/22/2008 11:21:01 PM

BarracudaHockey

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Thats a 2m Spirit Elite, the sail plane is 78"

I think the tug is a 1.20 or so, its not mine and he doesn't have it any more, I don't remember the specifics.

4 stroke engine, low pitch prop, medium speed. It drags it up like its not even on there though.

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/23/2008 9:56:22 PM

spiral_72

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OzMo

there is a ready made version that hanger 9 I think made. search around and you will find some pics. they are easy enough to make just be sure the release is SMOOTH and build in 2 or 3 degrees of down attitude for the glider being piggy backed. the rubber bands af a trainer wing will hold the cradle down.

always release with the tow plane at idle!

seach for cradle design by tinkerpilot

Yea, I heard a rumor of the Hanger 9 cradle, but I couldn't find it anywhere! The word was a $29 cradle.... Well worth the aggrivation of building one.

JoeDoe,
That's a clean install man! I notice you don't have any wing tip supports. Obviously you don't have a problem keeping it level. I thought I'd have to make some supports too.

Well, I'd like to try this thing. I figured I'd have to use the largest diameter prop I can find (as mentioned) for the pulling power. I think a 12.25x3.75 APC is my best bet. I bet the Pizazz will float with all that secondary wing in tow.

Thanks for the parts diagram too. I'll draw this thing up and see what happens. I've already made some sketches. I like the idea of the servo in the glider though. A HS-55 should be more than enough.

I use a high start now. The cradle launch is just for the novalty(SP?) of the thing really. It's gonna be great!

Thanks all!

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/24/2008 1:25:07 AM

joedoe

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don't underestimate the drag of the Spirit. It provides more wing area, but also a lot more drag!

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/26/2008 6:35:22 PM

spiral_72

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Thanks, I'd like to come up with a way to quickly affix the Spirit on the Pizazz just to prove it'll work before I dump a lot of time into this thing.

Oh, well. Some on here felt like it would work, so I'm gonna go for it! Not sure what cradle design I'm going to build just yet. They're about the same really, just different release mechanizms (<- I think I butchered that word!)

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/26/2008 9:50:37 PM

JCWhite

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I too would be interested in what design you use. I have a spirit I would like to tug up. JC White

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RE: Sailplane towing - cradle - 6/27/2008 4:08:02 PM

spiral_72

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I'm leaning toward the cradle with the eyelet. The eyelet fits through the bottom of the sailplane and I'll mount a HS-55 inside the Spirit with a pin.

I think it'll be more trustworthy than band release and keep me from modifying the glow powered plane at all. Also it'll put the release in the hands of the sailplane pilot.

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