Omaha_RC_Flyer

Well after looking at Craig Chastney’s Twin DPS design several times. I wanted to design a tri-engine plane closely based on his design. I started playing around on Turbo CAD LE and this is what I came up with. I hate posting about a plane before I have flown it, but it has been sitting in the basement about 95% complete for the past few weeks. Not to mention the anticipation to post about it has been killing me. I finished it last night. If the weather gets a little better in the next few days I hope to maiden it. I taxied it around without the wing, a week or so ago. The nose wheel I had on it seemed to be very flimsy, so I changed it. What a sound when you get all three engines dialed in!!

Specifications
76” wingspan
16” chord
76” overall length

Engines (3) O.S. .46 FXi
Servos (9) Futaba 3004 (2) 3001
Batteries (2) 2000 mAh 4.8V NiMH
Receivers (2) Futaba R127DF

5 Channels Ailerons, Elevators, Rudders, Throttles, & Flap

Radio Set up is as follows:
RX #1 Right Side
Ch.B 4.8V 2000 mAh NiMH Battery on R. side switch
Ch.1 R. Aileron
Ch.2 R. Elevator
Ch.3 Center engine throttle
Ch.4 R. Rudder + Nose wheel on Y-harness
Ch.5 Center mono-flap

RX #2 Left Side
Ch.B 4.8V 2000 mAh NiMH Battery on L. side switch
Ch.1 L. Aileron
Ch.2 L. Elevator
Ch.3 L. and R. side engine throttles on Y-harness
Ch.4 L. Rudder

AUW 19.5 lbs. (I have never claimed to build light weight planes )

Later,
Omaha

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Here are a few close up pictures of the horizontal & vertical stabs

Also a close up of the fuse and tail boom attachments

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Here are a few pics from the beginning of the build. I used 1/2" PVC pipe to join the Fuse and tail booms together.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

I made the spar similar to a Ultra Spad Sticks ( I-beam construction, except I lightened it a little)

acam37

My Feedback: (16)

Dude, you are insane. I mean that in a positive way. I like how you take other designs and soup'em up. Since you seem to have an unlimited supply of engines and hardware I think your next project should be a 4 engine SPAD17. Now that would be awesome.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

acam,

The thought has crossed my mind. I save the attached photos from a thread I was reading a while back and have been thinking of trying it.

I had to strip three of my planes to build this one. (Spadet, a balsa profile, & the Spad Race Car)

I haven't forgotten about the Spattern Build, I have been busy with other projects as you can see.


Later,
Omaha

grumpE

My Feedback: (6)

Yes he is insane.

I think Omaha wants to BE coroplast. Really.

I am in continued awe of what he dreams up. I will also tell you his birds all fly well too. Do I get to fly this one too?[8D]

Eric

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Maybe after the new wears off.

Maiden flight will be today sometime after lunch. I'll call you Eric before I go out to the field. A few have volunteered to video it, but If you can make it bring your video camera also.

Thanks for the comment about my planes!! Kind-a-makes my head grow a bit


Thanks,
Omaha

Villa

Great plane, Omaha. The main gear seems to be made from 1/8 thick X 1 inch wide aluminum. Is that right? If it is the soft aluminum I have purchased from Lowe's I think the first none perfect landing will fold it. If you need something stronger yet still SPAD, look at what I use on my flying lawnmower. It is 5/32 dia piano wire. For your weight it may have to be 3/16 diameter. Good luck on your first flight.

Splinter Wood

Since the SPAD3DT...I have been stuck on 1/8 x 1 6061-T6 aluminum for landing gear. For me it has worked on 4-7 lb models just fine without bending (crashes being the exception). I think with the softer aluminum however...rolling the gear vs. simple 45 or 90 degree bends is preferable. Rolling work hardens the aluminum (works best with higher % Copper alloys) and gives more memory. The best solution would be to buy a 1/8 sheet of Duraluminum (2024) commonly used for aircraft construction.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Villa,

The main gear is the Lowes 1/8" X 1" soft stuff. I think I solved the problem of it flattening out on a not so smooth landing, not the prettiest fix, but it works great. Please see attached photos.

Later,
Omaha

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Below is the same flight report I posted on [link=http://spadworld.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11409]Spadworld[/link] earlier.

To start off, I wanted to go out to the field sometime between 12:30 and 1:30, but my better half was out shopping with her Mom. Next thing I know, it was 2:00 and I had one of the guys out at the field calling me and asking why I hadn't left yet. I told him I was watching the children, and I would leave as soon as my wife made it home. About ten minutes later, he called back and said to bring the children along and he would watch them. After hanging up with him, I commenced to loading the kids in the truck and we left for the field.

Once I got the wing servo leads plugged in and the wing attached, I did a range check, which turned out fine. Then I filled all the tanks and started the engines one at a time (2 outside engines first then the center one). A friend carried it out for me and I taxied out and down the runway.

Here we go...I advanced the throttle and down the runway she went toward the south. It tracked well considering there are three engines on it. After I got it up to speed, I pulled back on the elevator, and she lifted off. I turned back toward the north and noticed she needed some left aileron trim (7 clicks) and a little down trim (5 clicks), then she was flying a lot better when the sticks were in the neutral position. I then made a few more passes to get a feel for it.

Now that I was a little more comfortable with it, I did a roll or two and then I gained a little altitude to do a loop. It pulled through the loop just fine, not a perfect circle, but a loop never the less. While I was still high up, I did a few Split-S's.

I decided not push my luck on the first flight, so I came around for an approach or two to see how hot I would have to land it. It did require a little power to land, but not much. It touched down o.k. and I was relieved as I taxied back to the pit area.

After I touched down, one of the guys yelled out "You are the Spad King"....hence the title above my photo and on the video.

I flew a second flight and did some of the same maneuvers as in the first flight. It flew great, but a bit slow due to the weight and the engines are still being run rich.

Here is a video link [link=http://www.omahawks.org/default.asp]Omahawks.org[/link]. Scroll down my club's home page and you will see a link to the video of the flights. The link is below my photo. Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you guys think!!!!

Later,
Omaha

acam37

My Feedback: (16)

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth a million. Good job.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Acam,

Thanks!!

The ML Spattern thread may be coming alive again pretty soon. I have almost got the plug in wing design figured out. Now that the weather is starting to get nasty around here (suppose to get 3" of snow by tomorrow evening), I'll have more time to work on it.


Later,
Omaha

Gravityisnotmyfriend

My Feedback: (2)

That was a sweet video! The sound of all three engines screaming on take-off was awesome. I really liked the three trails of exhaust smoke. I got a buddy stationed at Offut AFB, I'll have to look up your field next time I'm out there.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Next time your down this way, send me an email or PM prior to leaving, and maybe we could meet up to fly a few spads.

Later,
Omaha

Gravityisnotmyfriend

My Feedback: (2)

You got a deal. The only SPAD I have flying right now is a SPA3D, but I should have my BullDawg flying soon. I'd love to see the triple DPS flying first hand.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Look forward to meeting you in the future.

Later,
Omaha

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Here is a [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4659137&postcount=162]link to the plans [/link] I'm working on, they are almost finished. Plans are in a zip file that have been added to post I did on RCGroups

Later,
Omaha

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Here is an update.

A few weeks ago I was out flying the TriDPS and a friend convinced me to fly it with two engines ( the outer ones). It flew, but boy was it a pig, VERY SLOWWWW!!! The third engine really makes a difference in performance!

I replaced the nose gear I had on it, with a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXH129&P=0]Fults Dual strut[/link], which made a big difference in the ground handling as well.

Later,
Omaha

grumpE

My Feedback: (6)

That thing is no pig. It is a brick @#$% house................

ThunderBirds

My Feedback: (3)

Mike...Your a credit to Spadders everywhere!

I could hardly believe my eyes upon seeing such an ugly "TripeStik" built so well. I really love the wings and spar system. Again thanks for sharing.

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Thanks for the kind words. Now I'm getting busy with work on the ML Spattern. A project I have been working on for the past year (a little here a little there). I'll start posting in the next few days about it.

Later,
Omaha

Twin_Flyer

My Feedback: (4)

Outstanding work with the triple! Cant wait to see the Spad17

Bill

Omaha_RC_Flyer

Well I was lucky enough to have the Triple DPS displayed in Focal Point of the May 2006 Model Aviation (see attached photo).


Later,
Omaha