guille2006

Hi all;
It's my pleasure to introduce you my new design for a Hi-Start or Hand launched glider fitting into the category "Mini-thermic" glider!!!
Some specs:

- Wingspan: 1.47 m
- Length: 1m
- Weigth: about 200g
- 2Ch radio with 2 micro (5 to 8 grams) servos.
- All Wood wing and tail; composite fuselaje

The design started about 3 months ago and after a very accurate aerodinamic work in order to optimise its performances, the CATIA V5 design phase started scoping an accurate lightweigth structure design too. In order to get the maximum strngth possible combined with low weight, a geodesic structure type was decided. This structure type could be also helpfull for copying the wing shape decided in the aerodynamic phase.

Hopefully the plane will be available from nov/dec 2012 into three types; Fuselaje only; ARC and furtherly ARF.

Hope you guys enjoy the step-by-step photo report from today to the maiden flight video; ss you will see, many options and several solutions are to be explored during the whole work... and don't forget to comment!!!!!

Regards!!

guille2006

Hi all!!!
Progress so far:
Al the grids for the construction references were done; all the wing ribs were placed and fuselaje main parts were decided...
I hope tomorrow to get finished the fuselage and start tail group.
Cheers!!!

wyowindworks

For pure hand launch, I would recommend making the vertical fin symmetrical top and bottom.  This allows you to create a lighter boom in the fuse.  In it's present configuration the fin will create a lot of torsion on the boom during discus launches as the fin makes yaw corrections during launch.  You will end up having to use more material on +/-45 (bias cut material) to handle the torsion.  This means, that for the same weight, you will have less material on 0/90 for optimized bending stiffness and hoop strength.  Material on +/-45 is significantly weaker and less stiff for longitudinal bending.  Designing the fin so it doesn't create a torsional force on the boom during yaw correction on launch allows you design the boom for maximum bending stiffness and strength which will result in higher launches.

guille2006

Thanks wyowindworks for your comments; will be really helpfull while designing Arlecchino DLG.
The first version is intended for hi-start launch so the actual tail is as in the immage; 20% fin area below the center line. The category for what this airplane is being designed indicates that a "9m rubber with 1,5Kg maximum force + 30m ligthweigth wire must be used for launch". With so in consideration, I choose an Ø10mm aeronautical carbon fiber tube for the boom attached to a low drag center-nose fuse. They should arrive tomorrow, so I'll keep you updated with its characteristics of weigth and strength.
Regards

guille2006

Have good ideas on the fuselaje.... meanwhile wing ribs are "on place" and some COTS components are arriving home... Radio gear for prototype, covering, tail boom tubes...
Hoopefully, tomorrow will develop fuselage mold and it's CNC, or may be wing parts on detail?
Regards...

guille2006

Yesterday was a very busy day...
Results on the CNC machine are astounding!!!!!!
Then sand paper, wax and tomorrow will see the first fuselage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kypzx...2&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMA2G...1&feature=plcp

guille2006

Good news!!!
Check the first fuse shells!!! Weight is just EXCELENT (15 grams for bottom shell and 20 for top one). Also, check the entire's plane render...
Soon: wing construction.

wyowindworks

Looking good.

How did you process the laminates in the mold? 

Most DLG fuses (pod and boom) are 37 to 45 grams.  You might be close to that weight depending on your boom weight.

guille2006

Thanks again wyonwindworks for your comment. So far fuse weight of the 1st prototype is 59 grams including servo support and wing attachment. Lamination was done with 45grams fiberglas and 75grams carbon; tomorrow I'll get the 2nd full carbon prototype!!!!
I used aeronautic epoxy resin cured on convective oven @60° and vacuum bags to get 0.15 atm. No need of autoclave.
regards

guille2006

OK; wing build up started and goes well!!!
Check some photos... I hope tonight I join wing halves and star having an idea of the total final weight. Target was about 200g... let's see.
Second fuse came out pretty good on full carbon.
Regards!!!

guille2006

Here is it!!
Wings joined and sanded!!!! Result is awesome, Just 75 grams!!!!!!!!!
Also fuselaje was mounted; good result too...
So far, weight of the complete plane should be about 240 / 250 grams.

guille2006

Well; here we are; plane almost finished...
Final total weight structure - no radio: 192 grams
Final total weight + all radio gear: 255

Some pictures to illustrate...

Let's see this weekend for the maiden... if weather helps!!!

guille2006

Well everybody;
So far no luck with weather; the only i could test was some hand launch... it was so windy that I didn't wanted to risk the plane...
NOTE: the category points that if wind is more than 25Km/h, flying will not take place... registered wind was about 35, so...
After some glides, some lead was to be added in order to move a little forward the CG (note the nose up attitude on the lat vid. which was actually the first launch), commands were rigth !!!!!!!
Watch some hand-launches and comment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_0o...4&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0p2F...3&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCPp1...2&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwtuy...1&feature=plcp

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

It looks tail-heavy to me.

guille2006

Ready to send the first Arlecchino basik Kit to Argentina:

1- Full carbon fuselage, red painted; W=74 grams
2- All ribs and most of needed accesories; curved spars.
3- Plans for the sheetings
4- Rudder and stab parts

Need for finish: 1mm thikness balsa wood (2 sheets), covering, radio gear, launch hook assy. About 8 hrs of work.

Goes on a tube by regular post service...

guille2006

Report of the last week...
1- Last saturday achieved several good hand launch flights and a couple of hi-start launches... second lauch got awesome +5mins of flight!!!! (release about 40m)
2- First production batch launched; on picture the first fuselaje not yet trimmed... check surface finish!!!
Enjoy and comment...
Cheers

guille2006

Well guys; as promised, here a couple of flight videos of the arlecchino; read comments for details!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy and Comment!!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1lEDhncGM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0GiN1FY3YI[/youtube]

guille2006

Another Arlecchino in flight!!!!!
Enjoy great photos, courtesy of Marcos Iatrino!!!!!!

Soon; an onboard video... keep tuned.

Guille

wyowindworks

Looks nice.  You should to be able to go lighter on the fuse. 

guille2006

Hey All;
Updates here... first production batch on the way; 7 issues + a special reinforced one!!!
- 3 painted glass fiber
- 4 nude glossy carbon
- 1 reinforced and painted carbon (as requested by client).

During the flight tests, came out that was good to have a longer fuselage and a little bit less of dihedral. Also, all fuselages (except for S/N 8) are lighter weighting between 58 and 62 grams each (against the 70 to 74 of the prototypes). All planes are also equipped with the new tail set; check picture. This first batch (and further ones) includes laser cut wooden parts and a redesigned wing center... the S/N 8 wing is a typical issue for all the batch too.

Hope you like them!!!!!!!!!

guille2006

Well sirs, This weekend the Arlecchino will face his first contest...

Blow from below and good luck to the pilots!!!!

I will update the results...