Flying Pizza Box
03-02-2002, 03:27 AM
#1
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Flying Pizza Box
Also been called the flying matchbook, flying snow shovel, etc, etc. Please excuse the shoddy workmanship of this prototype TEST model. I wanted to work out possible CG problems with a disposable plane. I had no idea it would fly so good ! Now I'm gonna build a nice one from wood. I was able to hover this down to a tail touch 3 times in one flight with NO rudder even. Amazing. ( But it wasn't easy !) Here's a few pics.
Foamguy
Foamguy
03-02-2002, 03:56 AM
#3
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Flying Pizza Box
Don,
It's my own design. A takeoff from the disc planes and deltas. It's made from 2mm coroplast, with 4mm coroplast elevons. Pretty tough stuff, takes a good beating. This is just a test model. I had no idea if that planform would even fly, or where to balance it. Turned out great, so now I'm gonna build a nice one using balsa and monokote.
Foamguy
It's my own design. A takeoff from the disc planes and deltas. It's made from 2mm coroplast, with 4mm coroplast elevons. Pretty tough stuff, takes a good beating. This is just a test model. I had no idea if that planform would even fly, or where to balance it. Turned out great, so now I'm gonna build a nice one using balsa and monokote.
Foamguy
03-02-2002, 04:20 AM
#6
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Bravo!!!
Great job Foamguy!
How much did it end up weighing?
Did you go with the lifting airfoil? Or a flat one?
And I'm REALLY surprised you have that good of control without a rudder!
Congratulations John!
(hmmmm.......now where did I put that empty Pizza Hut box????)
How much did it end up weighing?
Did you go with the lifting airfoil? Or a flat one?
And I'm REALLY surprised you have that good of control without a rudder!
Congratulations John!
(hmmmm.......now where did I put that empty Pizza Hut box????)
03-02-2002, 04:36 AM
#7
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Flying Pizza Box
Guys,
I had no idea anyone would want plans for this thing. I'll try to draw some and post them, maybe at the SPAD site. Give me a week or two. I am upto my eyes in projects and other things. It needs some refinement too.
Dave, It has a mostly symmetrical airfoil. I say mostly, because at this point its not very rigid.
I had to mount the servos WAY up front and use LONG rods to control surfaces, major flex issues to work out. A balsa model would be much better... .. but with a little work, this could be made into a fun model too. It weighed about 3 lbs with LA .40 power. It has a touch too much right thrust in it, so you end up holding a lot of left elevon to keep it straight in hover mode. Actually, it kinda just flies around like that... nose about 75 degrees up...its the craziest thing.. LOL
I used to build deltas that would also fly like this... do the pirhouette maneuver... but I think the square shape is even more stable in super high alpha than even the delta is. Go figure.
I'll keep you guys upto date on things and plans if I find time to draw some.
Foamguy
I had no idea anyone would want plans for this thing. I'll try to draw some and post them, maybe at the SPAD site. Give me a week or two. I am upto my eyes in projects and other things. It needs some refinement too.
Dave, It has a mostly symmetrical airfoil. I say mostly, because at this point its not very rigid.
I had to mount the servos WAY up front and use LONG rods to control surfaces, major flex issues to work out. A balsa model would be much better... .. but with a little work, this could be made into a fun model too. It weighed about 3 lbs with LA .40 power. It has a touch too much right thrust in it, so you end up holding a lot of left elevon to keep it straight in hover mode. Actually, it kinda just flies around like that... nose about 75 degrees up...its the craziest thing.. LOL
I used to build deltas that would also fly like this... do the pirhouette maneuver... but I think the square shape is even more stable in super high alpha than even the delta is. Go figure.
I'll keep you guys upto date on things and plans if I find time to draw some.
Foamguy
03-03-2002, 12:48 AM
#9
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Flying Pizza Box
Bugs,
I'll try to post a cross section pic, but it will take a few days. The plane flies great at higher speeds, very stable.. no tuck under or other bad habits. I do need to find a good way to support the control rods though....it would be much easier to do in balsa. The rods are so long that they flex like crazy pulling out of a dive at any sort of speed. Also not capable of outside maneuvers at this point for the same reason.
Foamguy
I'll try to post a cross section pic, but it will take a few days. The plane flies great at higher speeds, very stable.. no tuck under or other bad habits. I do need to find a good way to support the control rods though....it would be much easier to do in balsa. The rods are so long that they flex like crazy pulling out of a dive at any sort of speed. Also not capable of outside maneuvers at this point for the same reason.
Foamguy
03-04-2002, 05:02 AM
#13
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Flying Pizza Box
Here's another hover pic 
I'll try to get some sort of plans up on SPAD as soon as I can. I'm somewhat busy now with airplane related things. I've been flying a lot, but not the Pizza Box. Been too busy crashing other people's planes. I'm in kind of a slump I guess.
I've been teaching new fliers too, and with the recent good weather I've been buried in new guys. ( Also buried one of their planes, so that ought to slow it down a little. )
Foamguy
I'll try to get some sort of plans up on SPAD as soon as I can. I'm somewhat busy now with airplane related things. I've been flying a lot, but not the Pizza Box. Been too busy crashing other people's planes. I'm in kind of a slump I guess.
I've been teaching new fliers too, and with the recent good weather I've been buried in new guys. ( Also buried one of their planes, so that ought to slow it down a little. )
Foamguy
03-05-2002, 02:36 AM
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pizza box
Great minds must think alike......
http://mypage.yhti.net/~dmcdnld/dawing.htm
Found this by accident after I read your post
http://mypage.yhti.net/~dmcdnld/dawing.htm
Found this by accident after I read your post
03-05-2002, 03:49 AM
#16
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Flying Pizza Box
Pileosticks,
Funny you bring that up ! Dave McD is a pretty regular poster here. He and I discussed this project via email before I started it. Actually, we've discussed quite a few cool ideas over the last 4 or 5 months.
Ironically, I had been flying wings like Dave's DaWing for over a year when I too accidently discovered his page and thought to myself, " Hey, here's a cool guy he likes the same weird stuff I do. ! "
Foamguy
Funny you bring that up ! Dave McD is a pretty regular poster here. He and I discussed this project via email before I started it. Actually, we've discussed quite a few cool ideas over the last 4 or 5 months.
Ironically, I had been flying wings like Dave's DaWing for over a year when I too accidently discovered his page and thought to myself, " Hey, here's a cool guy he likes the same weird stuff I do. ! "
Foamguy
03-05-2002, 04:16 AM
#17
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Thanks Foamguy!
Originally posted by Foamguy
....and thought to myself, " Hey, here's a cool guy he likes the same weird stuff I do. ! "
....and thought to myself, " Hey, here's a cool guy he likes the same weird stuff I do. ! "
But when most people get to know me they say,
" Hey, here's a weird guy, he likes the same cool stuff I do! "
(seriously thinking about getting a large Pizza Hut pizza to go sometime this week.....saving the box......and putting an engine and radio in it. Think it will fly?) :stupid:
03-05-2002, 04:49 AM
#18
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Flying Pizza Box
Hi Dave,
Actually...... I KNOW it will. I used to build deltas from flat 4mm coro. No airfoil at all. Leading edge, smeading edge, we don't need no stinkin' leading edge. They flew totally on angle of attack. Sure, its not the most efficient way to do things, but that's why we have .40's They did awesome flatspins, hovers, and tail touches too.
Way back when I was about 12 I learned the TRUTH about aerodynamics. If you use enough power, absolutely anything will fly. I built a C/L plane from some 1x2's and aluminum sheeting.
The old guys said it would never fly. Sure, it didnt fly too well, but it DID fly and hey, I was 12 so give me a break ! hahaha!
Try the Pizza Hut Box ! If it works, buy another one and figure out some way to fuel proof it... and voila !
Foamguy
Actually...... I KNOW it will. I used to build deltas from flat 4mm coro. No airfoil at all. Leading edge, smeading edge, we don't need no stinkin' leading edge. They flew totally on angle of attack. Sure, its not the most efficient way to do things, but that's why we have .40's
They did awesome flatspins, hovers, and tail touches too.Way back when I was about 12 I learned the TRUTH about aerodynamics. If you use enough power, absolutely anything will fly.
I built a C/L plane from some 1x2's and aluminum sheeting. The old guys said it would never fly. Sure, it didnt fly too well, but it DID fly and hey, I was 12 so give me a break ! hahaha!
Try the Pizza Hut Box ! If it works, buy another one and figure out some way to fuel proof it... and voila !
Foamguy
03-05-2002, 05:55 AM
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Hey Foamguy, you could switch to the quieter side like me and not have to worry about fuelproofing that flying pizza box.
You know, there are a couple of them sitting outside on the fire escape at my dorm. Hmmmm I do have a Geared Speed 400 needing a home. I'll be right back.
--Paul
You know, there are a couple of them sitting outside on the fire escape at my dorm. Hmmmm I do have a Geared Speed 400 needing a home. I'll be right back.
--Paul
03-05-2002, 08:02 AM
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Well I think it can be scratch built in about an hour, but I got sidetracked watching the Gonzaga v. Pepperdine game. Zags won 94-90 yeah!!!
Here's what I have done so far. I need to add a Fin, hook up the elevons, and balance here. Geared Speed 400 will be running a 6 cell 600 mah pack geared 3.7:1 and a 10 x 4.7 prop. Should be able to hover.
--Paul
Here's what I have done so far. I need to add a Fin, hook up the elevons, and balance here. Geared Speed 400 will be running a 6 cell 600 mah pack geared 3.7:1 and a 10 x 4.7 prop. Should be able to hover.
--Paul
03-05-2002, 07:06 PM
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elevons
Why don't you just unfold the back of the box and use the cardboard for elevons?!? I bet it'd be strong enough plus it'd look really cool. Well as cool as a flying pizza box gets 
03-05-2002, 07:38 PM
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Flying Pizza Box
i work at Pizza Hut, and after reading this i think i might just grab a couple boxes to play around with....just i don't have elevon mixing on my TX...
rob o'
rob o'