Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
10-13-2012, 11:28 AM
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Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
Big news from Champaign, Illinois today. Quique Somenzini's newest creation, the Splendor in cooperation with Oxai took to the skies for the first time yesterday evening with a fantastic result. Many have seen the color scheme leaked, as well as some images of an airframe on the hobbynet-jp blog, but here is the official report directly from the source.
Born from a passion and experience that spans over 30 years at the F3A level, the Splendor is a very advanced airplane that will be a strong contender for many years to come. Several features make the airplane perform like no other on the market, from Quique's ideas regarding the general layout, to the four ailerons, and finally the retractable fins. This is one of the largest F3A airplanes on the market and has a very large fuselage volume and large wing area compared to virtually all modern F3A aircraft on the market. This yields an airplane that flies at a very constant speed, yet possesses extremely strong snapping performance across a broad airspeed range. Also, the fuselage actually flies in knife edge, resulting in a very low beta. Because of this, not only are rolls virtually effortless, but the presentation of the rolls is much nicer because the fuselage generates lift in all attitudes. This performance is attained without the use of the fins; the fuselage is just that efficient. Also, the airplane requires absolutely zero mix- making the presentation and management of the airplane much better. There is a huge difference between an airplane that has mixing to correct coupling issues and one that accomplishes it aerodynamically. The one that does it on its own flies much more pure. I honestly didn't believe there would be a difference, but there is.
As many know, the transition from summer to fall generally yields unstable weather conditions. Illinois is no different, and we were fortunate enough to fly the airplane in 20 mph winds in the beginning, to relatively calm conditions. It handled everything beautifully despite the aircraft's large size proving that one doesn't need a tiny wing to penetrate the wind or snap well.
Quique put four flights on the airplane today, and I was fortunate enough to fly flight number five. I can't comment on the full potential on the airplane as there is still quite a bit learning to do as it relates to all of the setup possibilities. Quique has investigated many possibilities with programming, and I'm sure I can comment once the testing is complete. There are much more possibilities for four independent ailerons than one may initially think. Right now, we have an incredibly capable flying airplane that requires no mixing and still vast amounts of potential.
As an added bonus to the exceptional flight performance, the airplane is one of the most aesthetically beautiful airplanes on the market, from the pleasing industrial design to the airplane, to the unique and vivid color scene designed by the one and only Mirco Pecorari of Aircraft Studio design in Italy. Quique and Mirco have worked on many projects together, and when you allow them to pull out all of the stops and add a highly capable manufacturing partner like Oxai to the equation, you are graced with a truly special aircraft.
There are very few times in my years of knowing Quique personally (over half of my life) that I've seen him this excited. Though he has been dormant as a competitor in the F3A scene for a few years now, his mind is still very much in tune with F3A. This time away has given him time to refresh and think of things from different perspective, take what he has learned and translate that to a clean sheet a clean sheet of paper concept.
I am truly blown away at how well the airplane flies and look toward to reporting more as we fly. It is truly in a league of its own. Quique (and I!) are excited to present this aircraft to the world and I am honored to have had a small part in the process.
Born from a passion and experience that spans over 30 years at the F3A level, the Splendor is a very advanced airplane that will be a strong contender for many years to come. Several features make the airplane perform like no other on the market, from Quique's ideas regarding the general layout, to the four ailerons, and finally the retractable fins. This is one of the largest F3A airplanes on the market and has a very large fuselage volume and large wing area compared to virtually all modern F3A aircraft on the market. This yields an airplane that flies at a very constant speed, yet possesses extremely strong snapping performance across a broad airspeed range. Also, the fuselage actually flies in knife edge, resulting in a very low beta. Because of this, not only are rolls virtually effortless, but the presentation of the rolls is much nicer because the fuselage generates lift in all attitudes. This performance is attained without the use of the fins; the fuselage is just that efficient. Also, the airplane requires absolutely zero mix- making the presentation and management of the airplane much better. There is a huge difference between an airplane that has mixing to correct coupling issues and one that accomplishes it aerodynamically. The one that does it on its own flies much more pure. I honestly didn't believe there would be a difference, but there is.
As many know, the transition from summer to fall generally yields unstable weather conditions. Illinois is no different, and we were fortunate enough to fly the airplane in 20 mph winds in the beginning, to relatively calm conditions. It handled everything beautifully despite the aircraft's large size proving that one doesn't need a tiny wing to penetrate the wind or snap well.
Quique put four flights on the airplane today, and I was fortunate enough to fly flight number five. I can't comment on the full potential on the airplane as there is still quite a bit learning to do as it relates to all of the setup possibilities. Quique has investigated many possibilities with programming, and I'm sure I can comment once the testing is complete. There are much more possibilities for four independent ailerons than one may initially think. Right now, we have an incredibly capable flying airplane that requires no mixing and still vast amounts of potential.
As an added bonus to the exceptional flight performance, the airplane is one of the most aesthetically beautiful airplanes on the market, from the pleasing industrial design to the airplane, to the unique and vivid color scene designed by the one and only Mirco Pecorari of Aircraft Studio design in Italy. Quique and Mirco have worked on many projects together, and when you allow them to pull out all of the stops and add a highly capable manufacturing partner like Oxai to the equation, you are graced with a truly special aircraft.
There are very few times in my years of knowing Quique personally (over half of my life) that I've seen him this excited. Though he has been dormant as a competitor in the F3A scene for a few years now, his mind is still very much in tune with F3A. This time away has given him time to refresh and think of things from different perspective, take what he has learned and translate that to a clean sheet a clean sheet of paper concept.
I am truly blown away at how well the airplane flies and look toward to reporting more as we fly. It is truly in a league of its own. Quique (and I!) are excited to present this aircraft to the world and I am honored to have had a small part in the process.
10-15-2012, 01:37 AM
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RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
Ryan, will Quique start competing in F3A again. I for one would be happy to see him back in action, so to speak, again.
10-15-2012, 08:59 AM
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RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
ORIGINAL: jetmech43
Very nice, im curious as im sure alot of people are, why the four aileron set up?
Very nice, im curious as im sure alot of people are, why the four aileron set up?
the extra cooling area just below the spinner. Various ways to introduce extra cooling on the motor/engine and this one works well since it takes highly disturbed air and brings it in the cowl....
The dorsal and ventral fins. Their location should reduce fuse AOA in knife flight yet still produce the desired effect of improved yaw response and reduced elevator mix
I can't tell from the photo if Quique actually split the ailerons. I will assumethey were split; the idea wouldn't make much sense otherwise. Split ailerons open up a whole 'nother way to control speed;also roll command on the model in its various attitudes.
The thing I like the most however is the hint that one of the best in the world is still thinking about F3A. I hope he unretires.....
10-15-2012, 06:22 PM
#14
RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
ORIGINAL: MTK
The dorsal and ventral fins. Their location should reduce fuse AOA in knife flight yet still produce the desired effect of improved yaw response and reduced elevator mix
The dorsal and ventral fins. Their location should reduce fuse AOA in knife flight yet still produce the desired effect of improved yaw response and reduced elevator mix
Jim O
10-17-2012, 05:48 AM
#17
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RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
ORIGINAL: OhD
Are they stabilizing or destabilizing?
Jim O
ORIGINAL: MTK
The dorsal and ventral fins. Their location should reduce fuse AOA in knife flight yet still produce the desired effect of improved yaw response and reduced elevator mix
The dorsal and ventral fins. Their location should reduce fuse AOA in knife flight yet still produce the desired effect of improved yaw response and reduced elevator mix
Jim O
10-17-2012, 09:21 PM
#20
RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
I think the vertical stab comes out only during the plane is flying 90 degrees... as far as i can understand the vertical stab dose not really help when level flying that's the reason you see the vertical stab goes inside. This must be operated by an extra channel on the radio... now this is my understanding we will wait till we get more details on this further.
10-18-2012, 11:55 PM
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RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
The Oxai website (http://www.oxai-rc.com/main/detail.aspx?ID=90) lists it as 8 channel. With four aileron servos that would make the retractable fins manual.
It is 60g lighter than Wolfgang's Citrin so not impossible to install a servo for the fins. I suspect that the idea is to retract the fins for the P Schedule and then extend them manually for the F schedule. You get the best of both worlds, especially in a strong crosswind where you don't really need/want the extra side area on the P13.
It is 60g lighter than Wolfgang's Citrin so not impossible to install a servo for the fins. I suspect that the idea is to retract the fins for the P Schedule and then extend them manually for the F schedule. You get the best of both worlds, especially in a strong crosswind where you don't really need/want the extra side area on the P13.
10-19-2012, 04:29 AM
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RE: Oxai Splendor- New Quique Somenzini F3A Design!
The fins are retractable with a retract servo much like you would have used back in the day on a retractable gear aircraft. It's only 8 channels because the elevator only uses one servo set up on pull pull. That's how just every F3A airplane I have ever owned from QuiQue was done. This airplane is simply amazing. I was fortunate enough to he present for the first flights and I must say its a joy to watch in the air.